Cleaning streets and beaches in Co Kerry will cost the local authority at least €700,000 this year.
A Kerry County Council meeting heard that much of this money could be saved if the public had a more enlightened attitude. The meeting was told also that the county was in danger of losing its green image because of litter.
The council was discussing a new draft litter management plan.
Bank ATMs, fast-food outlets and takeaways, as well as areas where mobile fast-food outlets operated, were among the locations where litter was a major problem. Other areas included secondary school bus stops and supermarkets. Chewing gum was a big problem on pavements.
Mr Jimmy Deenihan (FG) called for an awareness campaign among ship-owners and legislation banning passing ships from littering. A lot of the material on beaches was coming off passing ships and there should be some legislation to deal with the matter. The Shannon Estuary was badly affected by such litter, he said.
The scrapping of summer employment schemes for students would increase litter on beaches in Kerry this summer, he predicted.
Some four tonnes of rubbish was collected last spring at a cost of €4,000 on a small stretch of national primary route, Mr Oliver Ring, director of environment and water services, told the meeting.
Kerry depended on a clean environment for its main industry, tourism, which brought almost two million visitors each year, Mr Ring said. Litter had become a significant problem in recent years. The council was planning a pilot project with owners of takeaway outlets to focus on litter control. The on-the-spot fine had increased to €125 and the maximum fine was now €1,900.
The council has introduced a freephone number (1800 326 228) to encourage the public to report litter pollution incidents.