Tullamore ranks among best in the country as Litter rankings for 2025 revealed

IRISH Business Against Litter (IBAL) have released their litter rankings for 2025 with Tullamore featuring among the best in the country out of the forty towns and cities assessed.

Tullamore finished 5th in the 2025 rankings which meant that they were deemed to be cleaner than European norms, it marked an improvement of four places from 2024's 9th place for the Offaly capital. 

Their An Taisce report stated: "Another excellent result for Tullamore with seven out of the ten sites getting the top litter grade. These included Axis Business Park which was exceptionally freshly presented and well maintained, Market Square was attractively presented and well maintained with a virtual absence of litter throughout."

It continued: "The Main Street had some lovely features including colourful tiered planter boxes and attractive paving with trees looking very autumnal, Lloyd Town Park is certainly a gem with all aspects in very good order and clearly it’s a very well respected park environment."

Another location in Tullamore which received the top grade was the Charleville Approach Road as IBAL commented: "Road surface, markings and signage were in good order along this route. It was freshly presented and well maintained with just one crisp packet visible throughout the stretch surveyed."

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Fianna Fáil Councillor and chair of Tullamore Tidy Towns Shane Murray commended the litter improvement the town has made in 2025. He stated: "It's a steady increase in the scoring for Tullamore. I was delighted to share this with the Tullamore Tidy Towns Volunteers, some who were out over the Christmas. 

Cllr Murray was part of the Tidy Towns initiative which were instrumental in helping Tullamore achieve the distinguished ranking as he claimed that five bags full of rubbish were collected over a short distance on Arden Way recently.

The IBAL survey also revealed that the Deposit Return Scheme continues to have a positive impact on the cleanliness of towns and cities around the country with a 10% drop in the prevalence of cans and plastic bottles compared to the previous year.

Tullamore was no different as IBAL lauded the Deposit Return Scheme at Lidl in the town giving it the top litter grade. They added: "A welcome feature at this Deposit Return Scheme facility is the opportunity to empty any excess liquids from containers before using the machine. It seems to be well used and managed as there was no liquid on the ground and the area was very much deserving of the top litter ground."

The last area which received top marks was the Clara Approach Road with the report citing: "This route creates a positive first impression of Tullamore with a virtual absence of litter throughout. The overall impression was of a freshly presented and well
maintained environment."

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The remaining three locations which were assessed in Tullamore were R443 Collins Lane Approach Road, Bring Centre on the Daingean Road and Church Street which all still maintained a Grade B or higher contributing to the town's impressive ranking. 

Local TD Tony McCormack has hailed the progress the town has made in the litter rankings over the years. He said: "It puts into perspective just how far the town has come. Back in 2008, Tullamore was ranked bottom of the table and was deemed one of the worst towns in the country for litter. The transformation since then has been nothing short of remarkable."

The Fianna Fáil politician added: "This progress doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of years of hard work, dedication and long hours by so many people, especially the outstanding volunteers with Tullamore Tidy Towns, along with residents, local businesses and council staff."

McCormack concluded: "A hugely proud moment for Tullamore and for Offaly. Congratulations again to everyone involved."

The findings of the IBAL survey also documented that coffee cups remained one of the most commonly found forms of litter and was evident in one fifth of all sites surveyed around the country whilst the prevalence of disposable vapes, which are set to be outlawed over the course of 2026 was unchanged.

Sligo took the top spot for the 2025 litter rankings finishing ahead of Leixlip, Westport and Monaghan as the number of towns deemed clean last year rose to 28. Waterford City reclaimed its customary accolade of Ireland’s cleanest city finishing in 6th place overall ahead of Galway City Centre who had to settle for 9th place.