Limerick County Council launches its Annual Green Christmas Campaign

The Environment Section of Limerick County Council is urging householders to think green and spare a thought for the environment this Christmas.

The local authority today launched its annual Green Christmas Campaign, which features a advice on how people across County Limerick can reduce, reuse and recycle waste during the festive period.

Pre-Christmas tips include sending E-cards to cut down on packaging, wrapping presents with recycled paper, turning Christmas lights off overnight and pooling Christmas shopping into fewer bags. Shoppers are also encouraged to support local and “Fair Trade” producers. After Christmas, householders are advised to recycle all packaging, and take empty bottles and tins to one of Limerick’s many bring banks.

According to Mary Killeen Fitzgerald, Administrative Officer, Environment Section, Limerick County Council: “We all needlessly produce extra waste over the Christmas period. The coming festive period provides us all with an ideal opportunity to redress our waste habits by focusing on this year’s Christmas Campaign theme Of ‘Reduce Reuse Recycle’.”

She added, “There are many ways to keep the festive season fun while at the same time caring for our environment. We would urge people to reduce, reuse, recycle as much as possible.”

Top Ten Tips to Reduce Your Waste this Christmas:

1) Make a list and check it twice! Buy only what you need!
2) Cool cards – Send an e card, make your own unique one that won’t be forgotten!
3) Simple, stylish presents - Buy an eco-gift, voucher or charity gift to avoid unwanted gifts that will only end up as clutter. Shop local and/or look out for fair-trade gifts. If you’re “broke”, make a gift of your time!
4) Get Christmas wrapped up - Try alternative wrapping by buying recycled paper or making your own.
5) Do durable - Use reusable plates, cups and bags rather than throw away items. Buy loose vegetables, fruit, meat and cheese.
6) REUSE – give another life to all those nice gift bags and boxes you received during the year and make your gifts look even more impressive! Set up a REUSE box. Keep things like biscuit tins, boxes and ribbon that you can reuse during the year. Keep your favourite cards to make your funky personalised gift cards next year or to keep the kids busy on those wet winter evenings.
7) Start composting all those fruit and vegetable peelings, and you could reduce your bin weight by one third! Compost bins are available from the County Council or local hardware stores.
8) Save your Energy - Invest in LED Christmas lights and battery chargers with rechargeable batteries for all those games. It will save you money in the long run. Recycle any used batteries at your local Recycling Centre or any retail outlet that sells batteries.
9) Get organised in the kitchen! Set up three bins in the kitchen - for recyclables, compostable and general waste.
10) During the party season - Recycle everything you can in your opti-bag or recycling bin - cardboard, gift wrap, greetings cards & envelopes, paper & plastic packaging, drink & food cans, biscuit tins, metal lids, juice cartons, plastic bottles & packaging. Remember to wash n’ squash!

For further information on the 2009 Green Christmas campaign, contact Limerick County Council on (061) 496264 or see: www.lcc.ie/environment and www.limerickrecyclingcentres.ie.

IMAGE: Dreaming Of A Green Christmas - Councillor David Naughton, Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council and Benny Bee, Limerick County Council's anti-litter character, announce details of the local authority's 2009 Christmas Anti-Litter campaign. Also pictured are (L R) Gretta Purcell and Siobhan Hanley, both Assistant Staff Officers in the Council's Environment section.

Water Charges Reduction And Commercial Rates Freeze In Clare

Businesses in County Clare have been buoyed by the news that Clare County Council will not be increasing commercial rates in 2010.

Commenting on the approval of the 2010 Budget, Mayor of Clare Councillor Tony Mulcahy stated that the freezing of commercial rates was a significant achievement considering rates were subject to increases each year in the past.

“I would like to congratulate the County Manager, Corporate Policy Group and my fellow elected representatives for their pragmatic yet positive approach to formulating and approving this Budget”, the Mayor added.

Announcing details of the Council’s Budget for 2010, the Clare County Manager also confirmed a 3 pc reduction in water charges. Mr. Tom Coughlan said the decision would play an important role in sustaining existing jobs, and reinforcing Clare’s position as an attractive location for investment.

The Budget for 2010, which shows gross expenditure of €112.6m (5 pc reduction on 2009), was unanimously approved following a meeting of Clare County Council in Aras Chontae an Chláir on Friday, 4th December.

While complimenting the co-operation and input of the Elected Members and Corporate Policy Group in formulating the Budget, Mr. Coughlan pointed out that there would have to be further reductions in the operating costs of the Council, both pay and non-pay, in an effort to maximise efficiency and value for money.

Mr. Coughlan said that one of the main objectives of the Budget for 2010 was to support the business community and stimulate economic activity within the County. He continued: “This is the first time in many years that there has been no rate increase and where expenditure has had to be reduced in order to achieve this.”

Commenting on the reduction of water charges, the County Manager said: “The Budget shows that savings have been made in the costs of providing water services in the County, particularly on energy costs. Therefore, the decision has been made to reduce the charge for water supply in 2010 by 3 pc from €1.33 per cubic metre to €1.29. The charge for the provision of wastewater services will remain unchanged at €1.65 per cubic metre. This again will help the local commercial sector to continue its recovery throughout 2010.”

Mr. Coughlan noted that the Budget for 2010 included a series of other measures that underlined the Council’s ongoing commitment to economic development. He said the Council would engage directly in actively supporting major initiatives and progress areas of strategic importance such as delivering the potential of the Shannon Estuary and delivering on town centre plans.

Mr. Coughlan added: “Furthermore, the Council’s contribution in 2010 towards the provision of Housing Grants remains at the same level as that adopted in 2009. Meanwhile, the increase in roads own resources (5 pc) and the Water and Waste water services budget provides for various improvement works at locations in the county. These measures represent the council’s commitment to improving infrastructure and enhancing social inclusion.”

The Council’s revenue budget for payroll in 2010 is €38.9m (equal to 2007 figure), which represents a significant decrease on the 2009 figure of €41.4m. Payroll costs have been constrained by the introduction of an embargo on recruitment in March 2009, a reduction in overtime working, restrictions in temporary /seasonal staff engaged (both indoor and outdoor) together with the non-filling of vacancies. The 115 vacancies, which currently exist, will not be filled.

Limerick County Council Lifts Drinking Water Alert

Limerick County Council, following consultation with the Health Service Executive, has removed a drinking water alert that was affecting 2,000 customers of the South West Regional Water Supply and Feahanagh/Castlemahon Group Water Scheme.

The notice was put in place last Friday after the Council’s Water Services section detected a deterioration in water quality in the South West Regional Water Supply.

Extensive testing by the Local Authority's Environmental Laboratory staff has shown that the water being supplied continues to meet the drinking water standards.

According to Mr. Donal Brennan, Senior Engineer, Water Services, Limerick County Council: “The introduction of a boil notice was deemed a necessary precautionary measure to ensure that public health was not put at risk. Drinking water restrictions affecting 700 households in Broadford, Dromcolligher, Feohanagh/Castlemahon, Mountplummer, Kilmeedy, Feenagh and surrounding areas have now been lifted. Limerick County Council will continue to monitor the water supply to ensure compliance with water quality standards. The Council would like to thank the public for their support.'

Meanwhile, Limerick County Council and Clare County Council have confirmed this evening, following consultation with the Health Service Executive, that a precautionary boil notice will remain in place in Montpelier, O’Briensbridge and Bridgetown until early next week at least.

The notice, which affects approximately 500 individuals, was issued on Tuesday after Limerick County Council’s Water Services section detected a deterioration in water quality in the Montpelier Water Supply Scheme, which serves all three villages. Results of further tests are expected early next week.

The Councils are advising members of the public served by the Scheme not to drink the water except under the following conditions and for the following purposes:

- Water for drinking purposes, brushing teeth and food preparation should be boiled
- Boil the water to ensure a rolling vigorous boil and then allow it to cool. Cover it and store it in a fridge or cold place. (Tea or coffee made with water which has boiled is safe to drink)
- Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink. Domestic filters will not guarantee that water is safe to drink. Discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers
- Use water that has been prepared for drinking (i.e. that is boiled) for preparing foods that will not be cooked, e.g. for washing salads
- It is safe to drink commercial bottled mineral water.

Prepare baby feeds with water that has been brought to the boil once and cooled. Do not use water that has been reboiled several times. If tap water is unavailable, use bottled water that has been brought to the boil and cooled. Avoid using water that is fizzy, unless boiling has removed all the fizziness. Check the label: water in bottles labelled “natural mineral water” is not required to meet all the standards of tap waters.

Don’t use natural mineral water with concentrations greater than the following for infant feeding: sodium –200mg/l; Nitrate –50mg/l; Nitrite –0.5mg/l; Sulphate –250mg/l. Water maybe used for flushing of toilets, internal house plumbing and for personal hygiene and bathing. Vulnerable users, those persons with poor kidney function, renal failure and particularly those on renal dialysis are advised to source alternative drinking water until further advised.

Members of the public are requested to advise the County Council of elderly or disabled residents, who may require special assistance. The Council has also asked for information on unoccupied residences and how the occupier or owner maybe contacted.