Cllr Mary Jackman, Chairperson of the Strategic Environment Policy Committee, Gerry Behan, Director of Services, Environment, Limerick County Council and Pauline McDonagh, Coordinator of the Local Authority Prevention Demonstration Programme, officially launching the new Waste Management eGuide at the Hunt Museum (DG) Picture by Dave GaynorA series of innovative environmental projects in Kerry, Clare, Limerick City and County have culminated in the launch today of Ireland’s newest and most comprehensive eGuide to Waste Prevention.
The launch of the online manual marks the conclusion of the EPA-funded Local Authority Prevention Demonstration (LAPD) Programme in the region. Operated by the region’s four local authorities and coordinated by the Regional Waste Management Office, the pilot scheme aimed to prevent waste being generated in participating businesses and to provide a template for other waste prevention projects nationwide. The diverse projects undertaken included the development of a Waste Action Plan for Kerry Airport, a Waste Prevention Programme at the SkyCourt Shopping Centre in Shannon, a Waste Management Plan at a major Limerick City construction site, and an in-house Paper Usage Reduction Initiative at the University of Limerick and the offices of Limerick County Council.
Commenting on the newly launched website, LAPD Coordinator Pauline McDonogh said: “We have created a series of eGuides in order to share the methodology and results of the region’s five demonstration projects. By participating in similar projects and following our steps other companies and organisations can reduce their carbon footprint and save money in an increasingly competitive economy.”
Information featured on the newly launched website - www.managewaste.ie/e_guides -includes detailed data on each of the LAPD projects, the advantages for businesses and organisations in developing their own waste prevention programme, and a wide range of guides on how to implement such projects. “Eliminating or preventing waste makes good environmental and financial sense. After all if waste is not created it does not have to be treated and disposed of, which is much better for the local and global environment, better for climate change, and better financially for businesses and other organisations”, explained Ms. McDonogh.
Ms. McDonogh noted the tremendous success of the projects undertaken in counties, Clare and Kerry, Limerick County and City.
- Limerick County Council and the University of Limerick (UL) collaborated on a paper prevention project, which has resulted in cost savings of EUR40k for UL as it reduced its paper consumption by 32pc and now allows students to submit coursework and theses electronically. The Council achieved a 15pc reduction by the end of 2008 and this is set to double by the end of this year as Councillors embrace electronic communication.
- Limerick City Council collaborated with Sisk Building Contractors on establishing waste prevention practices during the construction of the Savoy Development. The site achieved recycling rates of 51pc and Sisk has now developed a virtual re-use website to aid waste prevention in the Dublin Region.
- Limerick City Council also worked with Sherry Fitzgerald O’Malley who manage the Riverpoint complex and introduced a multi-media campaign for all users of the development to prevent waste which resulted in reducing the number of bin-lifts by 22pc and increased recycling rates by 15pc
- Clare County Council collaborated with the SkyCourt Shopping Centre in Shannon to raise awareness about and prevent retail waste. Under the project, the Centre achieved an increase of 12pc in recycling of waste and a diversion of 15pc of organic waste to compost, as a result more than 50pc of the centre’s waste arisings are diverted from landfill. With costs savings of EUR10k already achieved and a target of doubling this in 2009.
- Kerry County Council & Kerry Airport collaborated on an action plan to reduce the impact on the environment of passengers travelling in and out of the regional airport. The significant findings here were the reduction in water consumption of 7 cubic metres per day, 50pc diversion of waste from landfill saving the airport EUR8k per year and further potential savings of EUR17k in low cost and no cost energy measures.
For more visit www.managewaste.ie/e_guides.
The launch of the online manual marks the conclusion of the EPA-funded Local Authority Prevention Demonstration (LAPD) Programme in the region. Operated by the region’s four local authorities and coordinated by the Regional Waste Management Office, the pilot scheme aimed to prevent waste being generated in participating businesses and to provide a template for other waste prevention projects nationwide. The diverse projects undertaken included the development of a Waste Action Plan for Kerry Airport, a Waste Prevention Programme at the SkyCourt Shopping Centre in Shannon, a Waste Management Plan at a major Limerick City construction site, and an in-house Paper Usage Reduction Initiative at the University of Limerick and the offices of Limerick County Council.
Commenting on the newly launched website, LAPD Coordinator Pauline McDonogh said: “We have created a series of eGuides in order to share the methodology and results of the region’s five demonstration projects. By participating in similar projects and following our steps other companies and organisations can reduce their carbon footprint and save money in an increasingly competitive economy.”
Information featured on the newly launched website - www.managewaste.ie/e_guides -includes detailed data on each of the LAPD projects, the advantages for businesses and organisations in developing their own waste prevention programme, and a wide range of guides on how to implement such projects. “Eliminating or preventing waste makes good environmental and financial sense. After all if waste is not created it does not have to be treated and disposed of, which is much better for the local and global environment, better for climate change, and better financially for businesses and other organisations”, explained Ms. McDonogh.
Ms. McDonogh noted the tremendous success of the projects undertaken in counties, Clare and Kerry, Limerick County and City.
- Limerick County Council and the University of Limerick (UL) collaborated on a paper prevention project, which has resulted in cost savings of EUR40k for UL as it reduced its paper consumption by 32pc and now allows students to submit coursework and theses electronically. The Council achieved a 15pc reduction by the end of 2008 and this is set to double by the end of this year as Councillors embrace electronic communication.
- Limerick City Council collaborated with Sisk Building Contractors on establishing waste prevention practices during the construction of the Savoy Development. The site achieved recycling rates of 51pc and Sisk has now developed a virtual re-use website to aid waste prevention in the Dublin Region.
- Limerick City Council also worked with Sherry Fitzgerald O’Malley who manage the Riverpoint complex and introduced a multi-media campaign for all users of the development to prevent waste which resulted in reducing the number of bin-lifts by 22pc and increased recycling rates by 15pc
- Clare County Council collaborated with the SkyCourt Shopping Centre in Shannon to raise awareness about and prevent retail waste. Under the project, the Centre achieved an increase of 12pc in recycling of waste and a diversion of 15pc of organic waste to compost, as a result more than 50pc of the centre’s waste arisings are diverted from landfill. With costs savings of EUR10k already achieved and a target of doubling this in 2009.
- Kerry County Council & Kerry Airport collaborated on an action plan to reduce the impact on the environment of passengers travelling in and out of the regional airport. The significant findings here were the reduction in water consumption of 7 cubic metres per day, 50pc diversion of waste from landfill saving the airport EUR8k per year and further potential savings of EUR17k in low cost and no cost energy measures.
For more visit www.managewaste.ie/e_guides.
