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Archive for Plastic Recycling

Skibbereen Recycling

Why Recycle when you can Reduce?

Posted by Sekeeta Crowley 
· March 5, 2020 

The Tipping Point

With so much in the news about the likelihood of reaching a tipping point for climate a change and biodiversity, it struck me that we are facing a different tipping point, this one in a more postive sense.

Led by Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough globally and Saoi O’Connor and Alicia O’Sullivan locally, people are waking up to the global catastrophe facing us and although some groups still haven’t ‘got’ it and governments, it seems, are still keen to greenwash actions, the general public have a growing awareness of what they can do on a smaller scale. All these smaller actions add up to a positive tipping point. We’ve not reached it yet, but it is approaching!

Look at the growing number of organisations…Extinction Rebellion, the Zero waste and Rewilding movement as some examples which if added on to the longer established organisations such as WWF, Friends of the Earth, Geenpeace show the spread of DIY action on a more local scale. There is a huge amount of scientific data, far more available in the public domain and now reported on more frequently, clearly showing the state we are in, so there is no excuse for non action. UCC have been getting awards for being a green university, and have been organising so many environmental events, it is a huge inspiration.

The Tidy Towns Movement has now gone way beyond begonias and litter picking. In our own community in Skibbereen and Baltimore Tidy Towns are actively involved in projects aimed at improving biodiversity. Look out for the public training sessions. Schools are joining the plastic free4schools, Rory Jackson has been leading transition year groups to categorise the waste they pick up on their beach forays. Others quietly pick rubbish off the streets and beaches.

Paula Marten has her Paula’s Positive Tips stand to take places to help people reduce their plastic use. Supermarkets are now selling some items which help the customer achieve this. There is Maggy’s, Soap box and others on the market, and Twig refill station in Clonakilty doing the same. So much is happening. Why not send us anything that has inspired you to action, or something you are doing already, which is helping us along the road to reach the positive tipping point?

Categories :

Paula Demonstrates Plastic Free Shopping

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· November 19, 2019 

Paula from Baltimore Zero Waste demonstrates how to reduce plastic packaging at home by choosing what you buy, coming prepared, and using some handy tips.  Watch the video taken at the stall sponsored by Fields of Skibbereen.   Learn about plastic reduction on everyday items sush as coffee cups, toothbrushes, water filters, making your own toothpaste, make up ranges and paper lunch bags! Watch out for the stall again at Fields.

Bea Johnson writes Think waste-free living is depriving, time consuming, costly, or simply reserved for hermits living in the boondocks? Think again! With a blog turned bestselling book and talks throughout the world, my family and I have debunked those misconceptions and inspired a global movement. Join us and hundreds of thousands of others in enjoying a richer life based on experiences instead of stuff!


Categories :

There will be no Plastics Factory in Skibbereen!

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· October 17, 2019 

As the SOS campaign slogan said “There will be no Plastics Factory in Skibbereen”.  That turns out not just to be an aspirational goal, but literally true.  The brilliant news after a High Court review is that the application by RTP to build the factory has been quashed.   With expenses awarded to the campaigners, and many legal arguments still to make, the application by RTP has stalled.  The campaign has succeeded.  So congratulations to the SOS team for their tireless campaiging, lobbying, researching and fundraising which have brought it to this point.

Even better, the case is now closed for the forseeable future because RTP have subsequently decided not to pursue an application to build a plastic factory in Skibbereen.

The only loose end is what to do with the Poundlick site, and what will happen to its industiral designation. So share the good news, but keep in touch with SOS for further news on that front.

 The original judement as reported by SOS read

“In the High Court on 30th July 2019, An Bord Pleanala consented to the Court granting an Order of Certiorari quashing the decision of the Bord dated 29th November 2018 which had permitted the construction of a thermoplastic compounds production facility at Poundlick, Baltimore Road, Skibbereen, Co. Cork.

And it is ordered that the subject matter of the said decision be remitted to An Bord Pleanala to be decided in accordance with law.

As is normal in cases of this kind, the subject matter of the decision will be remitted by the High Court to the Bord for further consideration which may result in a request to Daly Products Limited for a Natura Impact Statement. We will be a copy party to communications between the Bord and Daly Products Limited and to any NIS and will have opportunity to challenge or object.

We are advised that it will take a year to 18 months for procedures between the Bord and Daly Products Limited to play out and that no development can be commenced in that period.

Unusually, Daly Products Limited has not engaged in any way in the current process.

An Bord Pleanala has agreed to pay our legal costs.”

RTP withdraws

Now the latest announcement is that RTP Company have withdrawn their planning application.

As reported by SOS “An Bord Pleanála sent notification on September 16th 2019 to our Chairperson Brendan McCarthy that RTP Company T/A Daly Products Ltd. have withdrawn their application for the plastic factory and that there is no ‘live’ planning application now.  This case is now closed.  The SOS campaign has been successful in ways they could never have imagined.  This has been a brilliant example of ‘People Power’.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh!!!

Thank you everyone for your support!!!”

Categories :

Skibbereen Plastic Awareness Day 21/9

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· September 14, 2019 

21st September 2019 ABBEYSTREWRY HALL 10am til 4pm
Free event

11.am REDUCING PLASTIC IN THE HOME

Olive Finn from Twig Refill store in Clonakilty, Allison Roberts from Clonakilty Chocolate will give a talk to give us some ideas and help us all play our part in reducing plastic,

lpm. PLASTIC AND THE SEA

Rory Jackson will show a video and talk about his project with Transition year students in Skibbereen Community School.

12.00pm GARDENING WITHOUT PLASTIC

Experts discuss how to reduce plastic in the garden.

2.30 -3.30pm DISCUSSION GROUP FOR BUSINESS OWNERS AND INTERESTED PARTIES

Looking at challenges to businesses in trying to reduce the plastics they use. Budding entrepreneurs are especially welcome to pick up ideas.

*

DISPLAYS
Fionn Ferreiras’ Science project • NS School projects •
Twig from Clonakilty • Martha Cashman ceramics • For Goodness Sake •
Maggie’s refill station • Soapbox • Eco-congregations • Paula Marten • SOS
Fiona Vincent • Skibbereen Tidy Towns • Recycling info • and many more

 

Press release

On Saturday 21st September an event is booked in Abbeystrewry Hall Skibbereen (10am to 4pm) to help us learn a bit more about the most topical material at the moment for all the wrong reasons- Plastic.
A day of information, talks and discussion is planned, for which there is NO CHARGE: We are delighted that the Rev. John Ardis from Abbeystrewry Union of (Cof I) churches is so keen for us to use the Hall for this event.
Stalls: from schools (Rath NS, St Patrick’s NS, Skibbereen Community School and hopefully others) and local artists (Sonia Caldwell Paula Marten (‘feelgood positive changes’), Martha Cashman), Skibbereen Tidy Towns, Eco Congregations. We will have Fionn Ferrera’s award winning Science Project to look at, (although he can’t come himself), Maggie from the market’s refill station and others…..young climate activist Saoi O’ Connor may be dropping in too.
Talks and Discussions: on the problems and solutions of plastics in the home and garden with local business people ( Olive from Twigg, Alison Roberts who is well into reducing plastic use, Rory Jackson on his work with the transition year students clearing beaches, Deelish and other nursery people… I’m trying to get a CCC representative down to talk about recycling and to clarify what goes in which bin. If I can get enough help to do teas we will do that too!

We hope everyone who comes will find that cutting the use especially of the problematic single use plastics is possible with some thought and a little extra effort, with no adverse effect on quality of life! One small action taken by a lot of people morphs into a significant improvement to the health of the those living in third world countries trying to deal with the West’s so called recycling, our oceans and all that live there, fish stocks and the world and our own local environment.

So it’s a busy and exciting day and we’d like as many people as possible to come and join us.

If you would like to get involved with either event it is not too late, please get on touch with Sekeeta 0871516372 or zerowasteskibbereen@gmail.com. ‘Involved’ means anything from putting up a poster for us, showcasing what you do in your shop or business to try and reduce waste with a focus on ( single use) plastics, having a stand at the event, joining in the discussions, attending the events  and bringing your friends or helping the night before setting up or on the day, so there are plenty of options!

 

Categories :

Plastics Awareness Events in Skibbereen 12/9 & 21/9

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· September 3, 2019 

We are delighted to announce we have two events on Plastics Awareness coming up this month (September). These are the brainchildren of Kilcoe artist Sonia Caldwell. The first is designed to get people chatting over a cup of tea..what’s not to like? The second is a Plastics Awareness Day with lots to look at and talks to make you think and a chance to discuss the feasibility and options for reducing plastic use.

So to the first event:

As part of the Taste of West Cork Festival on Thursday 12th from 4pm to 6pm in the Riverside Cafe. This is entitled ‘Dear Granny what did we ever do without plastic’. It costs €5 for tea and scones and although it is based on the idea of a letter, it invites older people to come and talk with younger ones about times before plastic became mainstream.

“We would like to know all about grocery shopping in the good old days – before everything was wrapped in plastic! Look back at a time gone by, where reusing and repurposing was a way of life. We would like to hear the wonderful stories of the shops back then, the goods that were for sale (and how they were packaged) and the shop keepers who were wonderful characters in the social fabric of village and town life and look at new ways to marry the old ways with modern technology and enterprise to bring about a new plastic free future. In the spirit of the Folklore Commission of the 1930‘s we are inviting people to send a letter or note from an elderly relative or recording an anecdote or memory about how shopping for food was done in the old days, how we used to shop for food and what has changed in the type of food now purchased. Or if you are that elderly relative then send it yourself(!). Letters can be posted to Kilcoe Studios, Kilcoe, Skibbereen, Co Cork or e-mailed to zerowasteskibb@gmail.com before the 10th September”, but we would be more delighted if you could come with a younger or older person and join the chat!

Any letters and stories from the ‘Dear Granny’ session will then be exhibited during the Plastics Awareness Day:

Then  on Saturday 21st September an event is booked in Abbeystrewry Hall Skibbereen (10am to 4pm) to help us learn a bit more about the most topical material at the moment for all the wrong reasons- Plastic.
A day of information, talks and discussion is planned, for which there is NO CHARGE: We are delighted that the Rev. John Ardis from Abbeystrewry Union of (Cof I) churches is so keen for us to use the Hall for this event.
Stalls: from schools (Rath NS, St Patrick’s NS, Skibbereen Community School and hopefully others) and local artists (Sonia Caldwell Paula Marten (‘feelgood positive changes’), Martha Cashman), Skibbereen Tidy Towns, Eco Congregations. We will have Fionn Ferrera’s award winning Science Project to look at, (although he can’t come himself), Maggie from the market’s refill station and others…..young climate activist Saoi O’ Connor may be dropping in too.
Talks and Discussions: on the problems and solutions of plastics in the home and garden with local business people ( Olive from Twigg, Alison Roberts who is well into reducing plastic use, Rory Jackson on his work with the transition year students clearing beaches, Deelish and other nursery people… I’m trying to get a CCC representative down to talk about recycling and to clarify what goes in which bin. If I can get enough help to do teas we will do that too!

We hope everyone who comes will find that cutting the use especially of the problematic single use plastics is possible with some thought and a little extra effort, with no adverse effect on quality of life! One small action taken by a lot of people morphs into a significant improvement to the health of the those living in third world countries trying to deal with the West’s so called recycling, our oceans and all that live there, fish stocks and the world and our own local environment.

So it’s a busy and exciting day and we’d like as many people as possible to come and join us.

If you would like to get involved with either event it is not too late, please get on touch with Sekeeta 0871516372 or zerowasteskibbereen@gmail.com. ‘Involved’ means anything from putting up a poster for us, showcasing what you do in your shop or business to try and reduce waste with a focus on ( single use) plastics, having a stand at the event, joining in the discussions, attending the events  and bringing your friends or helping the night before setting up or on the day, so there are plenty of options!

Categories :
fight climate change together

Together we can fight climate change

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· July 23, 2019 

“My whole life has been wrapped in plastic”

Out of a number of powerful statements made by 16 year old environmental activitist, Saoi O’Connor, at a climate change workshop hosted by St. Patrick’s Missionary Society in Kiltegan yesterday, this one really stuck. She said that she can’t relate when her granny talks about a time, not so long ago, when she could buy food and other household items without bringing home a bin-full of plastic.

Environmental scientist, Dr. Cara Augustenborg, used images and statistics to demonstrate the devastating impact of climate change, resulting from human activity.
Three 6th year students from Belvedere College in
Dublin also spoke powerfully about their fears and hopes for the future.

It was impossible not to feel frightened and disturbed at times during these talks, but the overwhelming feeling afterwards was that this is a FIGHT and we’re all in it to win it.

The audience was a room full of about 60 people, the vast majority of whom were retirement age. Watching the interaction between youths, fighting for their future, and elderly people ready to fight to ensure the future for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, one could only feel inspired.

Categories :

Climate Change for Ireland?

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· November 21, 2018 

Minister for Climate Action Richard Bruton tweeted on Nov 20th that

Today I secured government approval to draw up an all of government plan to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. The Plan will set out the actions to be taken by every government department and body to meet our climate commitment

and he intends to ” make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change”.

The Plan will set out the actions to be taken by every government department and body to meet our national, EU and international climate commitments.

However, as Gosego Moletsane writes in Green News .ie 

“Ireland is well off track to meet both its 2020 or 2030 climate targets or to decarbonise the economy as planned by 2050, according to the State’s own expert climate advisory body.  The latest projections from Ireland’s EPA is that on current trends, Ireland’s emissions will still be 13 per cent above 1990 levels in 2030.

The 2018 Climate Change Performance Index puts Ireland in 49th place out of a total of 56 countries identified in the study. Together, the 56 nations account for over 90 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Reported in joural.ie the minister conceded that the country is “far off course” and “way off target”.  The climate action minister said a “huge step up” from government is required if Ireland is to play its part in cutting emissions.“Let’s be honest. This can’t be solved by government alone. A lot of it will be behavioural change. Buying into different lifestyles. A much deeper change.”

 

Full report at the link here.

and here

Categories :

Why No Traffic Assessment for the Plastics Factory?

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· November 21, 2018 

The proposed RTP/Daly Products Plastic Nurdle Processing Factory at Poundlick, Baltimore Road, Skibbereen, Co. Cork will bring heavy lorries to a rural area on roads that were not built with such traffic in mind.  The normal planning process would include a Traffic Impact Assessment to assess and prepare for this.  So far this has not happended.

So why was there no Traffic Impact Assessment (T.I.A.) carried out or called for?

If the site goes above 5,000 square metres it is required.
This factory plan is for 4,800 so it is under the threshold, but Dept. of Transport guidelines state:

“it is necessary to decide which developments should be subject to T.I.A.. One of the simplest ways to do this is to set thresholds above which a T.I.A. is automatically required. This does not mean that the occasional sensitive site that does not meet these thresholds should not be subject to T.I.A. if considered appropriate”.

This site is only marginally short of the threshold and definitely should have had the Traffic Impact Assessment imposed on it. That should have been a minimum requirement from Cork County Council.

The daily traffic movements at the factory are stated as:
1. 80 Car movements
2. 12 HGV (6 X 2) movements
3. 92 Vehicle movements daily (just under the 100 maximum T.I.A. threshold).

Safety Hazards on the Baltimore Road:

County council require 65 metres sight lines at factory entrances in both directions.
This can’t be achieved in western direction as sight line crosses over front of gardens of adjoining properties.   The major concern here is that traffic coming from Baltimore direction will not have sufficient stopping distance (as required by DMURS, which are the national standards) to react to vehicles exiting from the proposed development.

All factory traffic will have to pass through Skibbereen (up to 6 X 20 – 40 tonne trucks daily once factory is operational) carrying raw materials.

Read more at SOS Skibbereen

Categories :

Precious Plastics

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· June 2, 2018 

The Skibbereen Plastic Recyclng Project was inspired by Precious Plastic, a global community of hundreds of people working towards a solution to plastic pollution. Knowledge, tools and techniques are shared online, for free. So everyone can start (yes, you too!).

We are independent, poor but free 🙂 Hundreds of people all over the world contribute to the project with their skills & knowledge, single or monthly donations.

Precious Plastic was started in 2013 by Dave Hakkens and is now at its third iteration (version) counting on dozens of people working on the project, remotely or on site (somewhere below sea level in the Netherlands).

Join the fight against plastic pollution.

Skib project is taking the idea and making an amazing machine which will convert plastic bottles into peco bricks to make raised beds, walls etc. Watch this space for more info and to follow the story.

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