1. Is there a clear recognition of the existence and extent of the local litter problem?
2. Are overall improvement goals set?
3. Does the Litter Management Plan recognise the role of the local authority in preventing litter arising from its own activities?
4. Is there a commitment to continual improvement and the prevention of litter pollution?
5. Does the Litter Management Plan include a framework for setting and reviewing objectives and targets?
Section Two: Planning
6. Is an understanding of the general litter problems being experienced evident (e.g. flytipping, graffiti, cigarette butts, household refuse in litter bins)?
7. Have any attempts been made to quantify the litter problem?
8. Have specific problem areas been identified (e.g. littering by school children, from mobile fast-food outlets or from sweet shops)?
9. Have the causes of the litter problems being experienced been postulated or identified?
10. Have the locations of major litter blackspots been specifically identified?
11. Has the potential for litter pollution arising as a result of local authority activities been cited (e.g. landfill-related litter, refuse collection-related litter, inadequate litter bin provision or litter bin emptying frequencies)?
12. Is the information provided up-to-date?
13. Is the significance of the environmental and other impacts of litter pollution identified and evaluated?
Section Three: Legislative Requirements
14. Does the Litter Management Plan highlight the responsibilities of the public with respect to litter prevention?
15. Does the Plan identify the specific responsibilities of businesses?
16. Does the Plan identify the responsibilities of the local authority itself?
17. Does the Plan identify the costs of the local authority's current litter abatement efforts, as well as the revenues arising from litter fines?
18. Is the number and nature of public submissions received mentioned, and are those submissions attached or synopsised?
19. Are measures to prepare and disseminate an outline/ summary of the Plan to all households and businesses mentioned?
20. Has a review date for the Plan been identified (and has it been adhered to)?
21. Is an assessment of current litter prevention, control and enforcement (e.g. number of on-the-spot fines, proceedings issued, convictions and notices served under Sections 9, 15, 16, 17 and 20) provided - including their objectives, success rates and implementation costs?
22. Is the co-operation and assistance of non-local authority persons mentioned and described?
23. Does the Plan identify measures likely to be taken over the period of the Litter Management Plan by persons other than the local authority?
24. Is there evidence of liaison with other local authorities with respect to the identification of Best Practice?
Are waste disposal and recovery facilities located in the local authority's administrative area identified, along with their location and hours of operation?
26. Is there evidence of consideration of relevant Local Development Plan(s) and any special amenity area orders in the preparation of the Litter Management Plan?
27. If the Plan has been prepared by more than one local authority, does it adequately reflect the needs of all of the authorities involved?
28. Is the Litter Management Plan linked to the local authority's Waste Management Plan?
Section Four: Objectives and Targets
29. Have objectives been set with respect to the prevention and control of litter?
30. Are the stated objectives appropriate to the scale of the problem, as identified within the Litter Management Plan itself?
31. Do the stated objectives reflect a commitment to improvement and to litter prevention?
32. Are the stated objectives specific, tangible, measurable and realistic?
33. Are specific objectives identified with respect to public awareness, co-operation/ partnerships with stakeholders and education?
34. Are specific objectives identified with respect to the improvement of the local authority's own performance as regards litter prevention and control?
35. Are specific objectives identified with respect to the need to focus on young people?
36. Have different objectives been identified with respect to different problem areas (e.g. fly-tipping), and how appropriate are these objectives, as regards the extent of the litter problem identified in the Litter Management Plan itself?
Section Five: Management Programme and Measures
37. Does the Litter Management Plan identify the resources required to implement the measures identified in the Plan?
38. Are measures to encourage public awareness described?
39. Are measures to satisfy the specific objectives of the Litter Management Plan identified?
40. Are measures to prevent litter pollution described?
41. Are measures to improve the local authority's own performance described?
42. Are education (and especially youth education) measures described?
43. Are enforcement measures identified (particularly with respect to the provisions of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997)?
44. Have measures related to sensitive or protected habitats and wildlife been identified?
45. How appropriate are the measures to the scale of the problem identified in the Litter Management Plan?
46. Do the stated measures reflect an appropriate prioritisation - i.e. the biggest problem areas being tackled first?
47. Are the measures realistic, tangible and measurable?
48. Is information on litter-related costs included (i.e. costs of street cleansing, litter bin emptying, awareness measures, educational efforts and enforcement costs)?
49. Is information on how the local authority intends to fund the different measures identified in the Plan?
50. Does the local authority have plans to secure funding for their different measures and activities (e.g. business sponsorship)?
51. Is a clear timeframe for implementation of the different measures provided, and does it appear appropriate?
52. Are performance indicators identified (e.g. number of schools visited, number of Litter Wardens and number of complaints responded to)?
53. Does the Litter Management Plan identify award schemes and other incentives to encourage stakeholders to get involved in litter prevention and control efforts?
54. Does the Plan state that there is a system in place for accepting, recording and responding to complaints received from the public (e.g. a hotline)?
55. Does the Litter Management Plan request comments and ideas from the public?
56. Does the Plan include details of any litter surveys completed to-date and their results?
57. Does the Litter Management Plan describe the quantities of public cleansing waste and litter being collected on a regular basis?
PART B - BEST PRACTICE
Section Six: Structure and Responsibilities
1. Is information on the number of Litter Wardens employed by the local authority included?
2. Is information on the number of street cleansing, litter prevention/ public awareness/ education personnel employed by the local authority cited in the Plan?
3. Do these resources seem sufficient for the implementation of the measures identified?
4. Are the roles of key personnel identified clearly?
5. Is information on cleansing rotas available?
6. Is there evidence of a system being in place for the dissemination of litter-related information to all levels of personnel within the local authority?
Section Seven: Training and Awareness
7. Has the Litter Management Plan (or an outline) been disseminated to all local authority personnel?
8. Does the Plan describe what local authority personnel (if any) have been trained as Litter Wardens?
9. Is there evidence that training related to dealing with the public has been given to Litter Wardens?
10. Does the Plan identify a public liaison/ information officer?
Section Eight: Communication & Documentation
11. Is there a system in place for identifying when major public events will be taking place in the local authority's administrative area?
12. Does the Plan describe systems for involving the Gardai in the issuing of litter fines?
13. Does the Plan describe a regular environmental, waste-related newsletter or other publication which can be used to disseminate information related to litter?
14. Is there evidence that the local authority has issued an advice sheet to all householders regarding the correct procedures for the presentation of refuse?
15. Is there evidence that the local authority has developed and disseminated any other advice sheets (e.g. to skip-hire contractors and fast-food outlets)?
16. Has the local authority conducted surveys of public opinion and awareness in the past, and are the results of such surveys discussed in the Plan?
17. Does the Plan imply that surveys of public opinion and awareness are planned for the future?
18. Does the Plan describe a system for giving talks on waste and litter-related issues to schools and representative bodies?
19. Is information on the number of complaints received cited, as well as the manner in which those complaints were dealt with?
20. Is information on the equipment and machinery resources of the local authority with respect to litter control and abatement provided (e.g. number of suction sweepers and number, size and capacity of litter bins)?
Is there evidence that pilot schemes have been undertaken, or are planned, by the local authority with respect to litter prevention and control?
Section Nine:Emergency Preparedness and Response
22. Does the Plan identify the types of emergency situations that the local authority has had (or might have to) deal with?
23. Is provision made for extreme weather conditions?
24. Is provision made for major open-air events (such as street festivals and St Patrick's Day)?
25. Is provision made for major public events (such as All-Ireland sporting event finals and major concerts)?
26. Is provision made for dealing with litter blackspots?
27. Is information provided on the systems which have been put in place for non-standard working hours (e.g. weekends)?
28. Is information provided on how to let the local authority know about litter emergencies?
29. Does the Plan identify the response times which the local authority believes (or knows from experience) to be achievable?
30. Is there evidence that emergency response procedures are tested and reviewed periodically?
