Sustainable Skibbereen

2 days ago

WASTE: In the first of our uploads of the submission made by Sustainable Skibbereen for the Cork County Council Development plan we put forward suggestions and comments around the issue of waste for the council to consider when preparing the development plan for County Cork 2022-2028
We have listed some of the main points below and the full document can be found on our website via this link. sustainableskibbereen.com/news/waste-not-want-not/

We appreciate and want your comments/suggestions and thoughts.

1. While Ireland currently recycles 33% of all plastics, higher than most EU countries, that figure needs to rise to 50% in 2025 and 55% by 2030 to meet EU targets. 40% of all municipal waste is recycled. But where?

2. Recycling and waste bring centres should be expanded and rationalised so that a visitor is clear what materials are taken and the same things are taken across the county. Each centre should also have the facility to take some domestic rubbish especially in small towns where the surrounding areas may not have door to door collection.

3. A deposit scheme for glass bottles would save on energy (Energy) if they were washed and reused. A collect and return scheme would be needed to get them back to the manufacturer or a bottle sanitising plant. Which could return the clean bottles to the manufacturer in the same way the new ones were sent out for filling.

4. Communities could be funded to set up repair cafes. Repair cafes and freecycle groups keep materials out of the waste stream for longer and provide opportunities for socialising and innovative business.

5.Principles of the circular economy should be adopted to keep as much material in circulation for as long as possible in its different forms before it finally goes for recycling.

6. The average household in Ireland is responsible for 117kgs of Food Waste pa. Provision of land for allotments and community gardens in town areas provide not only a space to restore well being and meet others, but also a place to grow food.

7. Local food markets selling local food reducing food miles (Energy) should be encouraged as people tend to bring their own bags and only buy what they need, thereby reducing food waste.

8. The marketing of plastic products is production driven not consumer led, there is a huge role for government on local, national and European levels. Presently the responsibility for disposal is pushed squarely in the shoulders of the consumer and the costs of disposal / recycling borne by them and the County Council. Less plastic used in wrapping will also reduce the amount of plastic rubbish strewn in our hedgerows, beaches and oceans.

9. Although Ireland recycles 40% of its waste, recycling of plastics has been shown to be a poor system. In the best of worlds it can only be recycled a small number of times and only 9% is generally recycled. How does Cork County Council check that what is sent for recycling actually gets recycled?

10. Reverse vending machines can and should be used in Ireland. Why not start in County Cork? The Refill program for drinking water refilling stations reduces the need for plastic bottles of water.

11. Coffee outlets need to be encouraged, perhaps by. Increasing the tax on single use cups and reducing tax on the keep cups. The County Council and UCC have set a good example here by banning the disposables. While some single use plastics are being banned, the Council should take the matter to Government to reduce the production of the single use plastics again maybe by taxation and invest in development to produce long lasting reusable containers for transport of goods which can be taken back up the supply chain to be refilled

12. Waste is partly created by cheap imported clothing, items being worn very few times before discarding. Charity shops and others selling second hand clothing could have rates reductions as they are keeping clothing out of the waste stream. Enterprises using used cloth and other materials could be encouraged ... See MoreSee Less

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