2 March 2015
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
‘No Junk Mail’ stickers are being made available to householders
across Cork in a bid to reduce the amount of waste generated locally
by unsolicited mail dropped through letterboxes.
The Southern Waste Regional Office, supported by the Environment
Section of Cork County Council, has developed the initiative as part
of its ‘Do One More Thing Campaign’ to encourage resource efficiency
and waste prevention.
The campaign is a key element of a public consultation on a new plan
that sets out a framework for waste management in 10 counties across
the south of Ireland, including Cork, during the next six years.
Key targets outlined in the Draft Southern Region Waste Management
Plan, which is one of three being developed in Ireland, include a 1%
reduction per annum in the quantity of household waste generated per
capita over the period of the plan, a recycling/preparing for reuse
rate of 50% by 2020, and the elimination of the direct disposal of
unprocessed residual waste to landfill from 2016.
Unsolicited mail is mail you receive through your letter box. It
generally comprises of items such as local take away menus, local taxi
companies, and local companies advertising services such as house or
garden maintenance.
“Junk mail is not only a great source of annoyance for many
householders but it is also a huge generator of unnecessary waste,”
explained Dr. Mary Stack, Environmental Awareness Officer, Cork County
Council.
“While junk mail can be recycled most householders when asked say they
would prefer not to get it in the first place. The ‘No Junk Mail’
stickers we are making available are a polite way to request
distributors not to give you the material,” she added.
No Junk Mail stickers are being made available from the offices of the
Environment Section of Cork County Council. A number of local Tidy
Towns Groups are also distributing the stickers.
A series of other ‘Do One More Thing Campaign’ measures are planned
for the coming months, according to Pauline McDonogh, Regional Waste
Prevention Co-ordinator, Southern Waste Region.
“Among the initiatives, which are funded by the EPA, is the repairing
and bringing back into use of broken household items, improving the
quality of recycling so less recyclable waste is contaminated, and
reducing household food waste through smarter shopping, improved food
storage and more efficient use of foodstuffs,” stated Ms. McDonogh.
Commenting on the public consultation process for the Draft Southern
Region Waste Management Plan, Ms. McDonogh noted: “The draft plan aims
to move our management of waste from a traditional disposal model to a
circular economy model so that waste becomes a future resource or raw
material. Householders, businesses and even schools can kick-start
this process by visiting our website at wwww.southernwasteregion.ie
and learning how they can directly play a role in boosting household
and commercial recycling rates and reducing the level of waste sent to
landfill.”
The Southern Region Waste Management Plan is expected to be finalised
by mid-April 2015. The Southern Waste Region encompasses the local
authorities in Carlow, Clare, Cork City, Cork County, Kerry, Kilkenny,
Limerick City & County, Tipperary, Waterford City & County and
Wexford.
