Only one Kildare town signed up for poster free election says campaign group

Only one county Kildare town has opted to be poster free in the forthcoming local and European elections, according to a campaigning group.

While some areas have opted to ask candidates to keep main streets or central areas clear, only Kildare town has opted to be entirely poster free according to a list provided by the national campaign group,  PosterFree, which estimates that it cost candidates €3 million to put up posters in the 2014 elections.

PosterFree said it is a joint campaign by independent Donegal councillor, Séamus Maguire,   and David Weitbrecht of ZeroWaste.ie.

It is encouraging all candidates to go poster free this May in both local and European elections.

SEE ALSO: Tender date for bids to transform former Kildare dump extended

It said 52 areas has signed up, including Kildare town, Blessington, Dunlavin, Lucan, Portlaoise, Ballyroan and Abbeyleix.

The campaign said that a national voluntary ban is becoming a reality.

In a recent Claire Byrne Live/ Amárach Research poll, 77% of respondents said that they thought the use of posters during election campaigns should be banned.

In 2014, 2038 candidates ran for 750 seats erecting an estimated 600,000+ posters, covering the equivalent area of 23 Croke Parks. It is estimated that in 2019 numbers will be similar.

These posters, in 2014, produced 366 tonnes of C02, the same as driving an average car non-stop for 592 days.

In the midst of our current climate crisis, it is imperative every Co2 reducing action be taken, said the campaign.