The Tipperary town on a mission

Cashel in Co Tipperary has committed to becoming a zero-waste town, and those behind the project say that even the smallest step can make a positive impact.

For example, project manager of Zero-Waste Cashel, Derry O’Donnell, has asked his local Chinese restaurant not to include a plastic bag to hold his food when he collects his order.

Zero-Waste Cashel was launched in March 2017 and aims to reduce waste levels produced in the Tipperary town. O’Donnell is confident in the project reaching its zero-waste goal.

“We have tried to get the whole community involved… people are starting to wise up a bit more lately and take heed of the dangers,” he says.

They have held numerous events over the past year, with everything from recycling and upcycling talks, to a fashion show using clothes from local charity shops and a zero-waste festival at the end of April.

“At the end of the day, plastic is made from oil and when you see all the plastic waste in the ocean, it’s an oil spill really,” says O’Donnell.

But single-use plastics are not the only material going to waste in our homes.

“The average household has around €700-worth of food waste every year,” says O’Donnell, who adds that roughly 22% of general waste in Cashel bins was food waste, after examination. Alongside this, 38% of recycling bin contents were not recyclable.

That’s why he believes that greater awareness of what can and can’t be recycled is critical for those who want to play their part.

The cafe that composts

The Phoenix Cafè at the Phoenix Park has been using compostable takeaway cups and lids for six years and even has an on-site recycling and compost centre. It doesn’t get much more eco-friendly than that.

Run by Helen Cunningham – who hails from a farm in Co Leitrim – the cafe also uses a lot of freshly grown fruit and vegetables from its garden for menu delights.

“I just love food, vegetables and people,” says Cunningham, who is also a member of the Grow It Yourself (GIY) board.

Compostable cups and lids are a more expensive option, but Cunningham says it’s well worth it.

“It’s something we feel very strongly about,” she adds.

Scott Holder, Leo Varadkar and Helen Cunningham, with the Phoenix Café compostable coffee cups. The Dublin café uses compostable cups and lids and also has an on-site compost and recycling centre for customers to correctly dispose of their waste.

There is a custom-built compost and recycling area for customers to leave their cups. The staff separates waste into mixed recyclables, food compost and glass recycling bins. The takeaway salad bowls, jam pots and paper straws are all compostable. The cafe also launched a campaign in August where it gave away lettuce seed sticks to customers with their coffee.

“Over a period of time, small steps can really make a huge difference,” Cunningham says.

Coffee with a conscience

There are minor ways to reduce your plastic intake without ruining the pleasures of everyday life; even something as simple as a lunchtime coffee to-go has the potential to become more sustainable.

Re-usable cups are friendlier to both the planet and your bank account in the long run. Many coffee chains offer discounts or extra loyalty points to customers who bring their own re-usable cups. Starbucks, Insomnia, Caffè Nero and Esquires Coffee all offer an incentive, along with many independent cafes around the country. Visit www.consciouscup.ie/map for the full list of coffee shops involved.

Some coffee shops, such as Insomnia, use compostable takeaway cups. Make sure to dispose of these in a compost bin and not just in general waste, as the cups won’t break down correctly in landfill.

If you are not a coffee drinker, however, you can also check out www.refill.ie to see where you can fill your re-usable water bottle for free around Ireland.

No longer the short straw

Steel, bamboo and paper straws have become popular alternatives to the humble plastic straw used in everything from iced coffees to lemonade.

However, this movement has been criticised, as some people with disabilities have spoken out saying that straw alternatives are not sufficient for their needs, as they don’t bend in the same way or they are not malleable enough.

Moreover, according to Bloomberg, even if all of the plastic straws on global coastlines ended up in the ocean, they would only account for 0.3% of the estimated 8m metric tonnes of plastic waste entering the ocean each year.

Yet Dr Anne Marie Mahon, researcher in freshwater pollution at GMIT, plastic straws are “an easy win and an unnecessary evil”.

“You have to start somewhere and straws are a great example. It gives people the power to source their own solutions. It may have never entered peoples’ heads before that this was a problem,” she explains.

Fortunately, there are other options out there. The Little Green Shop (www.littlegreenshop.ie) is an Irish online store that sells stainless steel and bamboo straws along with other sustainable products.

“When I was looking for alternatives two years ago, nobody really cared or knew what I was talking about.

“Now, everybody is paying attention and noticing the problem,” says owner Jane Thornton.

Tips for reducing single-use plastics

  • 1 Get a re-usable coffee cup and water bottle.
  • 2 Buy loose fruit and vegetables and put them in your own re-usable bags.
  • 3 Keep a fold-up shopping bag on hand for impromptu trips to the shops.
  • 4 If necessary, pick hard plastic over soft because only the former is recyclable.
  • 5 Visit www.recyclinglistireland.ie to see exactly what can and can’t be recycled.
  • Biodegradable vs compostable

    The word biodegradable may seem eco-friendly, but it can be misleading. Most things are biodegradable, given enough time. It could take hundreds of years for a biodegradable item to fully break down.

    A compostable item, however, will break down into nutrient rich soil within 180 days – around six months. It will certifiably break down into soil within six weeks when commercially composted.

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