Portlaoise have risen six places according to the latest survey by business group Irish Business against Litter (IBAL).
Portlaoise is now in eleventh place, a rise of six places from last year.
IBAL states that Portlaoise is as clean as European norms and has sailed past neighbours Tullamore.
The survey said that Irish towns performed the best they ever have, with 80 per cent of towns and cities being as clean as their European counterparts.
An Taisce surveyed 25 towns and 15 city areas on behalf of IBAL.
Of these, none was judged to be a litter blackspot, and only one, Galvone in Limerick, was designated as “seriously littered”.
The survey also showed there has been little improvement in several sites previously found to be seriously littered.
According to the An Taisce report “this suggests the city councils are not getting to grips with the litter problem in the area”.
Ennis, Roscommon and last year’s winner Kildare are vying for the title of Ireland’s cleanest town, which will be announced by Environment Minister Denis Naughten at midday today.
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