Minister Denis Naughton with (standing, from left) Sharon Cameron, EAO, Mayo County Council; Dara Wyer, EAO, Kildare County Council; Mark Molloy, EAO, Galway County Council; Greg Duggan, senior engineer, Westmeath County Council; and Arlene Finn, EAO Galway City Council.

This Reuse Month householders and businesses are encouraged to reuse more, as less than 5% of disposed of items are reused

• Reuse businesses, charities and organisations sustained more than 800 jobs, 350 job scheme training positions and 7,600 voluntary positions with a turnover of more than €80 million in 2017. 

• National Reuse Month takes place from October 1 to 31. 

 

It is estimated that Irish households reuse less than 5% of the amount of waste discarded every year, even though people continuously reuse certain items on a daily basis. 

Inspired by this figure, Ireland’s three Waste Management Offices (Connacht/Ulster, Eastern/Midlands, and Southern) supported by Ireland’s 31 local authorities have one clear aim during this October’s Reuse Month, that is to make people and businesses aware of how they already reuse goods, while inspiring them to do a little bit more. 

The Community Reuse Network Ireland (CRNI) is directing Reuse Month events, seminars and information points throughout every region and county, which will provide people with the skills, tools and know how to reuse more.

At the launch of Reuse Month 2018 in Roscommon, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten said: “People already reuse items as part of their everyday lives, at home, at work and at play.

“For example many people have their favourite shoes resoled rather than replacing them, borrow books from the library, or share tools and equipment when doing jobs around the house. 

“These habits all avoid the need to manufacture and distribute new products and cuts down on waste, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

“National Reuse Month is about growing these habits of buying second hand and upcycled, prioritising repair, borrowing, swapping and refilling.

“We all do it to some degree, by doing a little bit more we are benefiting our whole community and environment,” he added.