Donal Hickey: Circular Economy Fund open for applications now
A Cork Economy Council County New Circular Fund Has Launched
How we dispose of plastics continues to be ‘serious challenge’ as we’re off-track in meeting mandatory recycling EU targets, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Ever since bottled water started to become popular in the 1980s, we use millions of plastic bottles in Ireland annually. Depending on which expert you listen to, it is estimated that fewer than half of the bottles are recycled. And, the use of plastic for many other purposes has, of course, grown massively While Ireland has high recycling levels for glass (84%) and paper/cardboard (73%), just 28% of plastic packaging is recycled, making it a gigantic task to reach the EU’s 50% target next year.
Cork County Council has taken a practical step by launching a new Circular Economy Fund to get people into 'circular living' — where resources are reused, or recycled — thereby reducing wastage.
Schools, community groups, sports clubs, and festivals are invited to submit proposals aimed at minimising single-use plastics, which pose a significant threat to our environment, contributing to ocean pollution and harming wildlife.
The new fund builds on successful engagement between the council and communities, in recent years. More than 35 water refill stations have been installed in schools and community buildings across Cork county, as well as mobile hydration stations at events.
CLIMATE & SUSTAINABILITY HUB
With an increasing demand from the public to reduce single-use plastics, this fund will support the installation of temporary, or permanent, water refill stations in schools, community buildings, sports clubs, and at festivals, reducing the environmental impacts of single-use plastics.
Cork County Council chief executive Valerie O’Sullivan said: “We know that moving away from single-use and fostering a culture of reuse can have a significant impact on reducing carbon emissions and positively impacting climate."
Last November, the EPA warned that recycling rates are not keeping pace with the level of waster regeneration. “We continue to throw away far too much, wasting valuable materials…right now, we need to focus on avoiding waste," said EPA director David Flynn.
Separately, progress is being reported in a leading tourist town with a scheme to ban the use of single-use cups. Last July, cafes and hotels in Killarney, County Kerry, agreed to stop serving coffee in such cups.
It all arose after the discovery that these cups were the most common form of littering in local beauty spots and Killarney National Park. Last month, the organisers claimed that more than 500,000 cups have since been prevented from going to landfill. Large signs are on display around the town urging participation in the scheme.
Meanwhile, applications for the Cork Circular Economy Fund can be made online at Cork County Council at until Thursday April 25, at 5pm.