A musical performance at the iconic Cliffs of Moher by the Kilfenora Ceili Band, accompanied by bin-beating members of the public, will be the unlikely setting for the launch of European Week for Waste Reduction (EWRR) 2010 at 11am on Saturday 20th November next.
The “BatucaMob” event will be a symbolic and a unified action of people coming together to announce the arrival of the EWWR throughout Europe, by thumping empty waste bins, trash cans and other containers as instruments. Members of the community throughout the Limerick Clare Kerry region are invited to participate in this week’s launch.
National events for Ireland are being co-ordinated by the EPA and regionally for Limerick Clare Kerry by the Regional Waste Management Office (RWMO).
According to Cllr. Christy Curtin, Mayor of Clare “I am delighted that the BatucaMob will launch European Week for Waste Reduction and I am especially pleased that this will happen at the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare. It is a stunning location and it will be the most westerly location during EWWR to hold a BatucaMob. I am urging people to come out and support the launch and to participate in the many events that will take place in Clare and across the region during EWWR 2010”.
Commenting on the upcoming launch at the Cliffs of Moher, Joan Tarmey, Environmental Awareness Officer with Clare County Council explained: “We have been working together with staff at The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience as part of the EPA waste prevention programme. As a result, considerable results have been achieved to date including increased diversion of waste from landfill and improvements in energy efficiency.”
Pauline McDonogh, Local Authority Prevention Demonstration (LAPD) Programme Coordinator, RWMO, explained that the key message being delivered during EWWR is that the “best waste is waste that is never produced”:
She continued: “With 522kg of municipal waste generated on average per person in the European Union. Household waste also has doubled in weight in 40 years and has been growing steadily at a rate of 1-2%. Therefore, raising awareness about waste reduction and promoting changes in production and consumption patterns is more urgent than ever.”
“Limerick Clare Kerry is among 21 regions across 10 European countries set to take part in the initiative, which will involve over 2,000 projects aimed at advising members of the public, authorities, businesses and public organisations about the kind of waste reduction habits that they can take up in everyday life”, added Ms. McDonogh.
Events taking place in Limerick City and County from 20-27 November:
- “Longer Life for Products”: Display of Reusable Products deposited at CAC’s, Mungret Civic Amenity Centre: Paint, furniture, toys, books etc Saturday 20th November (Saturday 20 November and throughout the week)
- “Stop Food Waste” and “Sensible Shopping”: Display & promotional materials, Crescent Shopping Centre (4-8pm, Friday, 26 November)
- “Stop Food Waste” and “Sensible Shopping”: Display & promotional materials, Arthurs Quay (11am-4pm, Saturday 27 November)
- “Less Waste At Work”: Information and awareness raising for staff, Limerick City and County Councils (Monday 22 to Friday 26 November)
Events taking place in Kerry from 20-27 November:
- “Stop Food Waste” and “Sensible Shopping”: Display & promotional materials, Manor West Tralee (4-7pm, Thursday 25 November)
- “Less Waste At Work”: Information and awareness raising for staff, Kerry County Council (Monday 22 to Friday 26 November)
Events taking place in Clare from 20-27 November:
- “Launch Event”: BatucaMob, Cliffs of Moher (11am, Saturday November 20)
- “Less Waste At Work”: Information and awareness raising for staff, Clare County Council (Monday 22 to Friday 26 November)
Anyone interested in attending the “BatucaMob” event on Saturday should contact Joan Tarmey on 065 6846331 / jtarmey@clarecoco.ie or Pauline McDonogh on 061 496844.
EWRR is a LIFE+ project, and is supported by the European Commission and coordinated nationally by the EPA. Further information is available from the project website www.ewwr.eu.
