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Waste Minimisation

Approximately 62% of waste in County Westmeath goes to landfill.  This is not sustainable or acceptable and we must achieve a situation where sending waste to landfill is OUR LAST OPTION.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is the preferred option in managing household waste to reduce the amount of waste that is produced in the first place.

Reduce:

The average household produces 1.5 tonnes of waste a year. We can reduce this amount by prevention, minimisation, reuse and recycling

The following are ways to reduce waste:

  • Avoid buying heavily package goods.
  • Buy loose fruit and vegetables
  • Buy concentrated products that use less packaging.
  • Bring your own shopping bags- every trip
  • Use re-fillable  or rechargeable products e.g. pens, batteries, printer cartridges
  • Use and re-fill your own drinks bottle
  • Use a lunch-box instead of foil or plastic wrapping
  • Have a garden composter for organic waste such as vegetable peelings, food leftovers, garden waste – this can divert up to 1/3 of your waste away from landfill
  • Share newspapers, books and magazines with friends
  • Repair broken goods instead of throwing them away

Food Waste Reduction

One third of the food we buy is thrown away.  Savings of up to €1000 each year could be made by reducing the food we throw away.  For tips on reducing food waste see -  www.stopfoodwaste.ie

Reuse

Many items can be used for different purposes and examples of this are listed below. 

  • Use scrap paper for writing notes
  • Use both side of a piece of paper 
  • Shredded paper can be use for bedding for pets such as hamsters and guinea pigs
  • Mend clothes and get shoes re-heeled so they last longer
  • Donate clothes and other household items to charity shops
  • Ask your school if they would like to take old school books
  • Keep bubble wrap, paper and cardboard to be used as packaging

Recycle

After reducing and reusing, recycling is the next most preferable option.  Approximately 38% of waste is recycled.  Recycling reduces the use of raw materials, lowers energy costs and results in less waste going to landfill.

  • Recycle glass/cans/textiles at local 'bring banks' - see Recycling Centre & Bottle Bank Info .
  • Donate clothes and other household items to charity shops
  • Use Recycling Centres – put in link for 3 locations (M’gar, Wallaces, Athlone)
  • Compost organic waste at home. Home composting units are on sale at both Recycling Centres at a discounted rate of €40.

For more information see http://www.recyclemore.ie

Free Trade Ireland

Free Trade Ireland allows you to pass on & pick up items free of charge.

Log onto www.freetradeireland.ie

Composting

Composting is a natural process where organic materials rot or biodegrade naturally into brown/black crumbly material that can be used in the garden as a soil improver or natural fertiliser.  It is an easy way to recycle your garden /kitchen waste.

Download your free guide to composting from: www.stopfoodwaste.ie.

 

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