Category: Uncategorized
Eurostats expose slow progress to cut municipal waste
The latest EU Municipal Waste generation stats have been released by EuroStat. Ireland does not impress. In Ireland, we are still producing more Municipal waste per head of population than we were before the Celtic tiger boom. We are well above the EU average of 481 kg/capita throwing away on average 586 kg/capita of Municipal…
What are the Benefits of Zero Waste Policies?
Adopting ZERO WASTE principles will: Current business models that could power innovation towards a circular economy encourage ideas around alternative, resource-efficient solutions. These models showcase a range of different implementations of the new circular economy with a Zero Waste philosophy at its core. They range from closed loop recycling to service-based solutions built on material optimisation. …
Where’s the Environment fund spend gone?
Some members of Zero Waste Alliance Ireland recently had the pleasure of attending the Community Reuse Network Ireland (CRNI) 2014 conference in Dublin. Taking place during European Waste Reduction Week, the event promised interesting discussions on the role of reuse and social enterprise in the nascent Irish circular economy. So, snugly installed in the beautiful Farmleigh House in…
Reflex Project – Hope for flexible packaging recycling
Ever wondered what to do with your flexible packaging such as plastic bags, frozen food bags and crisps & confectionery wrappers? The newer confectionery wrappers looks like tinfoil but is really a plastic. So it’s great to see some industry collaboration to address this challenge. The two-year REFLEX project, funded by Innovate UK, and led…
EU Ministers block plastic bag waste progress
Shame of EU Ministers failure to cut plastic bag waste. This is not a good state of affairs to find at EU ministerial level. You see, a group of European Union (EU) Member States – including the UK, Romania, Greece, Croatia and Poland – is blocking a European Parliament proposal to reduce EU plastic bag use…
Scotland carrier bag levy launched
For the first time, from today, a mandatory five-pence bag levy on carrier bags in Scotland is now in place. The new charge includes plastic, paper and biodegradable bags and applies to all retailers, from supermarkets to local stores and takeaways. Back in May, MSPs courageously voted to bring in the new regulations in a…
Scarcity of Resources highlighted in EEF report as a sustainability threat
In this latest report from the UK’s manufacturers’ organisation, the EEF, it claims that the UK, and that implied Ireland and Europe by extension, is very exposed to critical disturbances in Resources and raw materials availability. This will have an adverse impact on manufacturing. Why has this happened ? Well, the global growth of middle-class consumers along with…
Information freedom – Zero Cost Freedom of Information requests
We’re great fans of the words ‘FREE’ and ‘ZERO’ here at the Zero Waste Alliance. We believe public information access should have ZERO cost where it relates to public interest items. So we are cautiously welcoming the Irish Government’s announcement that non-personal FOI (Freedom of Information) fees of €15 are to be scrapped. What price…
Circle of life and re-birth
It’s not often we like to think of death, but it’s facing everyone of the 7+ Billion folks on this planet at some future time. And being Eco aware, Zero Wasters would like to find the best ecological manner to exit this state of being. Of all the options open to us, one environmentally friendly…
Ten steps to bring Europe towards a circular solution
In the statement, we’re; We’re doing so in tandem with the ongoing revision of the Landfill, Packaging Waste and Waste Framework Directives. The timely review of waste policy now provides us with a great opportunity to set Europe on a clear path towards resource efficiency. It is simply no longer tenable to burn and bury…
Going on a Holiday to Majorca? Bring along your waste.
From Bundoran to Bunyola, waste in haste. Nestled on the North west coast of Majorca, in the spurs of the Serra de Tramuntana, just 9 miles from Majorca’s Capital, Palma , lies the picturesque town of Bunyola. It’s just 2,572 km from Bundoran, but unlike Bundoran its 5,475 inhabitants (double that of Bundoran) have a serious concern. They…
The scandal of Food Waste in Ireland – Eco Eye view
There is no better way to understand just how much food is being wasted by today’s distribution systems than to watch this short Eco Eye video. With over 30% of food wasted and even more never reaching our shelves it is time to do something about it in our own lives . In this video,…
