Limerick Clare Kerry Gear Up For European Waste Reduction Week

The “best waste is waste that is never produced” is the key message being delivered by the Limerick Clare Kerry Regional Waste Management Office (RWMO) ahead of the first annual European Week of Waste Reduction, which takes place from 21-29 November.

Limerick Clare and Kerry are 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.

In Limerick, Clare and Kerry there is set to be 10 campaigns during European Week of Waste Reduction (EWWR), which is supported by the European Commission and coordinated nationally by the EPA.

According to Pauline McDonagh, Local Authority Prevention Demonstration (LAPD) Programme Coordinator, RWMO: “With 522kg of municipal waste generated on average per person in Ireland, raising awareness about waste reduction and promoting changes in production and consumption patterns is more urgent than ever. The principal idea behind EWWR is that the ‘best waste is waste that is never produced’ because if we do not create waste in the first place then we do not have to treat it.”

Ms. McDonogh said there were many ways in which Irish society could contribute to preventing waste at source. “Whether it is though the reduction or reuse of packaging, the purchase of long-life products or the reduction of food waste, every individual and organisation in Clare, Kerry and Limerick can play a proactive role in reducing the overall waste being produced in the region”, she added.

Ms. McDonogh indicated that many of the messages being promoted as part of EWWR were also contained in the RWMO’s eGuide to Waste Prevention.

The online manual, which was launched during the summer to mark the conclusion of the EPA-funded LAPD Programme in the region, outlines 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.

Ms. McDonogh stated: “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 householders, businesses and other organisations.”

A series of local events are planned throughout the week, focussing on five specific themes:
- Too much waste: Sorting waste is different from preventing waste - you might diligently use your recycling bin and organic bin but what about the waste that is going into these bins can it be prevented - yes by choosing less packaging or using up left overs or reviewing portion size so you have less food waste.
- Better Production: This is aim is for businesses rather than householders - what measures can an industry take to reduce the amount of waste generated through their economic activity? Simple ideas include communicating electronically with customers, printing double sided, reviewing & re-using packaging, smart design that reduces waste.
- Better Consumption: Actions that aim to make us think carefully about the choices we make, such as choosing tap instead of bottled water and choosing food grown or produced in Ireland to reduce food miles
- A longer life for products: can you repair or re-use items- do you really need a new phone, TV or ipod? Can you donate products that you no longer need but are still in good working order?
- Less waste thrown away: Being more aware of “best before” or “use by dates” for food - what do these actually mean, can you freeze foods you can’t eat today so that you can eat them at a later date? What about recipes to use up left-overs. A third of all food bought is thrown away - that’s a lot of food and a lot of money. What about keeping a food diary for the week - to see exactly what was eaten & what ended up as waste?

Events taking place in Limerick City and County from 21-29 November:
- Launch of the “Choose Tap Water Campaign” for student living in on-site accommodation in the Dromroe Village at the University of Limerick
- Limerick Crescent Shopping Centre: Clean Ireland Household Waste Prevention Information Stand
- Regional Hospital Limerick - transfer of WEEBOT garden to Children’s ark unit
- Waste prevention awareness initiative at Weener Plastics, Dromcollogher
- Information stand, organised by RWMO, for the Shannon Development Business Centre at Innovation Works, National Technological Park, and the Tait Business Centre in Limerick City

Events taking place in Kerry from 21-29 November:
- Information stand, organised by RWMO, for the Shannon Development Business Centre at Kerry Technology Park, Tralee
- Waste prevention awareness initiative at Astellas in Killorglin

Events taking place in Clare from 21-29 November:
- Waste prevention awareness initiative at Organic Lens Manufacturing in Ennis
- Information stand, organised by RWMO, for the Shannon Development Business Centre at IAPE Information Age Park in Ennis

Upland Sheep Scheme Payments To Be Made In Early December

Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has confirmed that special payments amounting to approximately 7 million euro will be made to 13,000 hill sheep farmers over the next two months.

Minister Killeen confirmed that he expected that Upland Sheep Payment Scheme payments worth in the region of 5 million euro would be made by the end of the year with the remaining 2 million euro being paid in early 2010. A further 54 million euro will be made available over the next three years in unused CAP funds to support incomes in the sheep sector.

The Clare T.D. said: “The Uplands Sheep Payment comprises unused funds from the Single Payment National Reserve. By creating this payment, the Government has recognised the difficulties and costs, including compliance costs, facing the sheep sector.”

“In addition to the 7 million euro payments being made over the next two months, the Department has allocated an additional 8 million euro for sheep fencing and mobile handling facilities to assist sheep farmers in reducing labour input, as part of a new targeted on-farm investment scheme”, added Minister of State Killeen.

The 2009 Upland Sheep Payment will be payable to farmers who declared their sheep under the 2007 and the 2008 Sheep Census; declared Mountain Type Grazing under the 2009 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme; and were eligible for and were in receipt of payment under the 2009 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. The maximum area payable is 15 hectares of mountain type grazing.

Work To Commence On Ennis Art Gallery

Pictured at a contract signing ceremony marking the commencement of refurbishment work on the old museum at the De Valera Library in Ennis, Co Clare, on Tuesday, 17 November 2009 L-R Bernadette Kinsella, Director of Services; Andrea Goble, Executive Architect; Ruth Hurley, Senior Executive Architect; Tom Coughlan, County Manager; Mayor of Clare Cllr. Tony Mulcahy; Gerry Dillon, MD of Cordil Construction; Helen Walsh, County Librarian; and Cllr Patricia McCarthy.

The arts in the Mid West Region received a significant boost today with the award of a contract to commence refurbishment of the old museum at the De Valera Library in Ennis, Co Clare.

The dedicated exhibition venue is being developed by Clare County Council in an effort to address the ongoing lack of suitable gallery space in the County.

Mayor Tony Mulcahy noted: “One of the County Council’s objectives is to promote access to the arts and to encourage more people to participate in the arts. It is essential to ensure that proper facilities are in place.”

The Mayor continued: “Local authorities have been and continue to be instrumental in creating a local response to the arts, and more people then ever before are enjoying the arts in a range of disciplines. The development of the new gallery is an exciting development for the county and indeed nationally”.

According to Bernadette Kinsella, Director of Services, Clare County Council: “The refurbishment work will ensure that a top quality exhibition space and centre of excellence is provided in the County. It will present opportunities to showcase Clare art and to encourage national and international artists to exhibit in Clare, ensuring accessibility of the arts to all.”

“This project builds on Clare County Council’s commitment to working with artists, audiences and participants to increase public access to the arts. This project, which will cost in the region of 250,000 euro, is being funded through grant aid from the Arts Council, the Department of the Environment and through Clare Co. Council”, added Ms. Kinsella.

The historical nature of the protected structure has been acknowledged in the design of the exhibition venue, which was developed by the Clare County Council Architectural Services team in conjunction with P. Coleman & Associates, ODM, John Cuddy & Partners and the Clare County Arts Officer.

The proposed refurbishment was given special consideration to ensure harmony with the existing building aesthetic. New lighting and humidity control systems, as well as a central multifunction space will enhance the architectural ecclesiastical features and provide quality exhibition space to museum standards.

It is anticipated that the new gallery will be completed in May 2010.