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• Waste Prevention

Waste Prevention in the Home

We all know that excess waste generation is bad for the environment but as individuals what can we do to try and reduce the environmental impact of our daily activities? The best option is to try and prevent waste arising where possible. Preventing waste before it is ever created does have a positive impact – after all if you don’t create waste, you don’t have to dispose of it.

Food Waste Prevention In The Home

Food waste is a real problem and is costing Irish householders €700 on average each year. This can be considerably higher in some cases. We must all play our part in reducing the quantity of food waste 
generated by being more aware of what we are putting in our bins. In Ireland over one million tonnes of food waste is disposed of each year. Around one third of this comes from households and means that, at home, each person is throwing out about 80kg of food waste each year. 

Home Composting
Composting turns organic waste such as tea bags, fruit, vegetable peelings and garden waste into a valuable product for the garden and can reduce the amount of household waste you send to landfill by up to 33%. 

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Energy Conservation In The Home‌

Being energy efficient at home can save you 20% or more in energy costs. The first step in managing your household energy is to find out how much you spend. As this varies from month to month, energy consumption should be monitored on a yearly basis using your energy bills.

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Water Conservation In The Home
As our population grows, so does the demand on our water resources. If we are all to enjoy our precious reserves we must be more aware of water conservation.

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Household Hazardous Waste

Many of us regularly use household hazardous waste products in our homes – we use them to clean with, to keep our gardens free of pests, to keep our cars well maintained, to maintain and decorate our homes and also in our personal grooming and hygiene. Common examples of household hazardous waste include oil-based paints, some pesticides and insecticides, some cleaning products, items containing bleach and aerosols. All household hazardous waste products will contain a hazardous symbol or identifying text and if the products are not stored correctly, used correctly and disposed of correctly, they can present a hazard to our health or to our environment. These products should be used sparingly in accordance with the guidelines outlined on the packaging. Alternatively, products such as vinegar, lemons, bread soda and soda crystals, can be used to produce great results!

Waste Management In The Workplace
Significant savings can be made by ensuring that waste is managed properly in business. It is important to identify the quantity and type of waste you produce. Once this is done, it is then time to look at your waste and see what can be prevented. All materials suitable for recycling should be segregated at source and bagged or compacted and stored appropriately.

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The Food Waste Regulations (SI 508 of 2009) have taken effect in Ireland since 1st July 2010. The Regulations require the commercial sector to segregate food waste and place it into a dedicated bin and to ensure that it is not mixed with other waste. The food waste must be collected by an authorised collector and dealt with through composting or by another approved recycling process. Alternatively, businesses can transport the food waste directly to a composting plant or can treat it themselves by installing a composting unit on the premises where the waste is generated. This on-site activity requires licensing.  

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Energy Management In The Workplace
In business the use of electricity, oil and gas will in general make up your total energy spend. Depending on the typeof business, there will be variations between these energy sources. Monitoring and management of electricity, oil and gas on site is very achievable, once you know how. You should endeavour to monitor usage by taking regular meter readings, comparing use with production or turnover and monitoring invoices through inputting data onto a datasheet. If you take electricity for example, one of the easiest ways to reduce your electricity cost is to ensure that you are on the correct tariff. If you want to reduce your environmental costs then you need to take action in a number of different areas, keeping in mind that improving equipment efficiency, improving housekeeping and addressing issues with refrigeration should make a big difference.  Energy Conservation in the Workplace-DL

Water Conservation in the Workplace
To conserve water and save money you need to implement a water conservation programme in your business targeting the main water using areas. Depending on your business this could include areas such as processing, delicatessens, kitchens and toilets.

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