PEOPLE OF MONAGHAN ASKED TO HAVE THEIR SAY ON THE CHALLENGE OF WASTE

The people of Co Monaghan are being asked to have their say on a new draft plan that aims to tackle the significant challenges around all aspects of waste in Ireland. The National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy is Ireland’s framework for the prevention and management of waste and will cover the years 2023 to 2029. Kevin Swift, Regional Waste Co-ordinator for Connacht Ulster, told the Northern Standard that considerable progress had been made in the management of waste in Ireland, and the previous Regional Waste Management Plans had provided a framework for these advances.

“We’ve seen a significant increase in the amount of waste produced in this country and it’s simply not sustainable,” said Mr Swift. “Recent data shows last year alone we, as a nation in total collected over 13 and a half million tonnes of waste. That’s the equivalent of over two tonnes for each person – or the weight of two cars. “This cannot continue and that’s why we’ve come up with this plan to tackle the problem.”

He said the plan aimed to shift Ireland towards a more circular economy where resources are reused or recycled as much as possible and therefore waste generation is minimised. It contains six key targets, including the aim to reuse 10kgs of resources per person annually during the period of this plan. “An important step in reducing our waste is to increase the amount of material we reuse,” said Mr Swift. “We know through the Charity Shop Network, through various online platforms and even through the simple acts of having a reusable coffee cup or water bottle that people are already engaging in reuse.”

He said the plan also aimed to encourage sustainable consumption, with proposals for more awareness campaigns, education programmes, demonstration projects as well as promotion of the correct ways to use your waste…