The Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 provide the statutory framework to combat the litter challenge. With regard to posters, the primary purpose of the Acts is to reduce litter by prescribing periods for which public meeting and election posters may be displayed. Under the Acts, the primary management and enforcement response to littering, including oversight of the removal of posters and cable ties within the statutory timeframe, falls under the remit of Local Authorities.
A public consultation process on the control of postering for elections and referenda was engaged in by this Department in September 2008, to balance the need to provide information to the public with the management of the erection of posters. As a result of this public consultation Section 19(7) of the Litter Pollution Act 1997 was amended by the Electoral (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2009, to introduce a 30-day time limit prior to an election, referendum or public meeting taking place, during which posters can be displayed. Prior to this amendment, the relevant legislation had required that election posters be taken down within 7 days of an election, but provided no time limit for the period prior to an election within which posters could be displayed. Posters erected to advertise public meetings are permissible until the advertisement has been in position for 7 days or longer after the day specified in the advertisement for the meeting. Failure to comply with this legislation is an offence.
I am satisfied that the above measures, as outlined above, mitigate against the potential creation of litter and I currently have no proposals to alter this position.