Pure Mile volunteers collect over 2,000 bags of litter and rubbish from the Wicklow/Dublin uplands.
The environment/community/heritage initiative, The Pure Mile, which encourages communities and groups living in rural areas of Wicklow, South Dublin, and Dun-Laoghaire, to adopt a mile of road, or miles of road, in their local area, or in the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands and organise litter picks, clean-ups, anti-dumping campaigns, and work together to keep these areas litter and rubbish free, have collected over 2,000 bags of waste from the beautiful, scenic, Wicklow/Dublin Uplands, since the beginning of this year.
Due to the hard work, determination, commitment, energy and enthusiasm, of the Pure Mile Groups, there has been a visible decrease in litter and rubbish in the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands. There are now over 1,000 miles or road, mountains, woodlands, valleys, forestries and upland amenities, signed up to the 2023 Pure Mile Project, the largest number ever since the initiative began. Thousands of litter picks and clean-ups undertaken by Pure Mile volunteers, ranging from individuals, family groups, community groups, walking groups, cycling groups, running groups, hiking groups, scouts, beavers, primary schools, businesses, and organisations, have removed hundreds of tonnes of illegally dumped waste and thousands of bags of litter and rubbish from the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands since the initiative was started in 2010. The success of the Pure Mile demonstrates the importance and necessity of the initiative and the need for continued collaboration and engagement to protect the Wicklow/Dublin upland environment.
Ian Davis, Pure Manager, commented,
“The Pure Mile was established in 2010 and the project has grown from 5 miles to over 1,000 miles this year. Now that all Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted we are able to organise large scale clean-ups of the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands and we have seen an increase in people getting involved. Since Covid-19 people have become much more aware of the amount of litter and rubbish on roadside verges, hedges, and drains and they want to do something about it. Pure Mile groups are contacting us every day to organise litter picks and clean-ups, and the Pure Truck has been extremely busy collecting the rubbish on a daily basis, ensuring that no bags are left on the landscape. It’s amazing the amount of litter and rubbish the Pure Mile Volunteers are removing from the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands and we would like to thank all of them in assisting us to Clean-Up Wicklow/Dublin Uplands.”
Pure are currently engaging with all types of groups and businesses who are interested in assisting Pure to ‘Clean Up The Wicklow/Dublin Uplands’ by organising litter picks and cleanup events of the Wicklow/Dublin Mountains. The Wicklow/Dublin Uplands is a unique landscape and environment and although Pure have removed tonnes of illegal dumping from this beautiful scenic landscape, they only have one truck and one driver, so they are unable to remove the unsightly small-scale litter from the area. The Pure Mile Groups make a huge difference to the appearance of the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands and Pure would like to congratulate all of the Pure Mile Volunteers involved. Further Pure Mile litter picks, clean-ups, anti-dumping initiatives, community projects, biodiversity, and heritage projects, are currently being organised throughout the year.
Pure supply all groups with Pure Mile Signs, Pure Mile Bags, Pure Mile High-Vis Vests, litter pickers and gloves, and the Pure Truck collects all rubbish and litter gathered by groups. All groups who register with the Pure Mile are invited to the Pure Mile Gala Evening Awards Night, and all receive a Certificate of Participation, a selection of Native Irish Trees, and all feature in the Pure Mile Calendar.
Pure are looking for groups, communities, individuals, schools, walking groups, cycling groups, running groups, scouts, businesses, organisations, EVERYONE, to get involved in the Pure Mile. People can contact Pure at info@pureproject.ie or download an application from http://www.pureproject.ie/the-pure-mile/pure-mile-application-form/. You can also write to; Pure Project, Unit 6 B, Riverside Business Centre, Tinahely, Co Wicklow, Y14 R978, and they will post out all the information, or request an application form and information pack by phoning Pure on 0402 28662.
Pure is the first initiative of its kind in Ireland incorporating statutory and non-statutory organisations and stakeholders, including, the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications, Wicklow County Council, South Dublin County Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Coillte, National Parks & Wildlife Service, and the Wicklow Uplands Council. This unique partnership initiative was established to combat illegal dumping in the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands and was officially launched in September 2006.
Further information on Pure can be found on www.pureproject.ie