Deputy Mayor Cllr. Seanie Power and Ella Ryan, Environmental Awareness Officer, Waterford City and County Council.
October is Ireland’s National Reuse Month. Reuse is about valuing our stuff, by using and reusing it for as long and as often as possible. This avoids the need to extract raw materials, manufacture and distribute new stuff, and avoids waste thereby cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions. Why not make a commitment to reuse as many things as possible to save the environment.
By prioritising repair and reuse this October we can all make a difference. Why not make a commitment to reuse as many things as possible to save the environment this October. Why not try to buy second hand, upcycle something, borrow, swap and refill? For example, you may already reuse by getting shoes resoled rather than replacing them, or by borrowing books from your local library.
Speaking at the launch of Waterford’s events for Reuse Month 2021, Deputy Mayor of Waterford, Cllr. Seanie Power said, “Reuse is simple, it’s about valuing our stuff, by using and reusing it for as long and as often as possible. At times we forget to consider where things came from or went to after we use them, never mind the environmental consequences of using up primary resources and dumping waste.”
Also present at the launch, Ella Ryan, Environmental Awareness Officer, Waterford City and County Council added, “Throughout October we invite everyone, whether a school, sports club, community group or business, to join us for Reuse Month. Maybe you want to host an event, attend a workshop or take part in a competition. We have initiatives to suit everyone this year, from how to encourage reuse and cut out disposable plastics at your sports club or school to upcycling everything from fashion to furniture.”
Let us help you to reduce plastic in your secondary school. Join Refill, Waterford City and County Council and Wexford County Council at 11.30 am on 7th October for an online workshop to be in with a chance to win a contactless water dispenser and 500 reusable bottles for your school worth €2460. This workshop is for teachers and their class. Join Refill Ireland, Waterford City & County Council and Wexford County Council will to find out more about how best to approach businesses about providing a refill of water and to sign up to the Tap Map. Full information will be provided on this at the workshop. The workshop will be approximately 40 minutes long. (Click here to see details of the competition tied in with this)
Help your class to take action on climate change, water pollution and overconsumption in this simple lesson. Begin a conversation about where their clothes were made and how long they will last. The accompanying teaching pack contains a presentation and teaching handbook to educate pupils about the impacts of fast fashion on our environment; download this today from here
Did you know that we discard over 22,000 single-use cups in Ireland every hour? Single use cups, whether they are biodegradable or compostable, still require vast amounts of natural resources to manufacture, which all impact negatively our environment. This virtual workshop will be led by Sorcha Kavanagh, coordinator of the Conscious Cup Campaign. It aims to give businesses information on the benefits of promoting and accepting reusable and upcoming changes that will take place with new legislation coming down the tracks. It will also inform community groups such as Tidy Towns groups how to can encourage local business in their towns and villages to sign up and accept reusables. Sorcha will demonstrate how simple it is for any business to get involved and in the campaign and how we in our communities can encourage this positive climate action. This event will take place at this Teams Link.
This Introduction to Furniture Upcycling Workshop will start with how to prepare furniture for upcycling and detail all the materials that are needed. The techniques will include painting the furniture and achieving a beautiful spray-like finish. Decoupage using napkins and wallpaper will be demonstrated. Different options on revamping hardware will also be run through. To attend this event, simply visit this link.
A 2 hour workshop that helps people find easy and enjoyable ways to move towards more sustainable living. The course covers 3 craft topics so people can make their own soap, make their own wax wraps and make their own biodegradable pots by the end of the session. With Aoife Munn, Environmentalist and Horticulturist with a focus on sustainability through practical learning. Register now for this event at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/sustainable-living-2hr-workshop-waterford-city-county-council-tickets-177365213127
Sports Club Competition:
Also this Reuse Month: Sports Club Competition – for more information on how to reduce plastics at your sport club, see https://submit.link/rt Join Sports Clubs around the County and take a pledge to reduce single use plastic and be in with a chance to win 100 branded reusable bottles for your club. Sports clubs in Waterford are invited to register to take a pledge to reduce single use plastic at their club grounds. Once you pledge and register with Refill’s Tap Map, you will be sent a sign to place above your tap, along with a social media post about your pledge to let your members know about the work you are doing. You will also be entered into a draw to win 100 reusable bottles for your sports club, branded with your club logo. For further information see https://submit.link/rt.
Upcycle Challenge:
MyWaste are challenging you to unearth the imagination within and create something new out of something old…to breathe new life into an old or unwanted item or material. So if you can find something old and renovate it or turn it into something completely different but still usable then you can enter the Upcycle Challenge at https://www.mywaste.ie/upcycle-challenge21/
National Reuse Month’s aim is to inspire you and provide you with the skills and tools to reuse more at home, at work and at play. Check out the MyWaste site for some tips and suggestions https://www.mywaste.ie/reuse-month/
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