Everyone can take practical actions which are circular economy actions. If you prevent food waste, if you refill a reusable bottle, if you repair your phone in favour of buying a new one, if you recycle waste, then you are contributing to the circular economy. Supporting local waste prevention and circular economy activity is a priority for the EPA.
The EPA Circular Economy Programme is sponsoring a Special Award in the annual Tidy Towns competition for 2022. This award is to recognise communities that have undertaken activities that support a circular economy. You can read more about the award and application requirements within the entry forms available to download here.
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The Circular Economy Programme’s Local Authority Prevention Network (LAPN) supports local waste prevention. In this network, which began in 2009, the EPA provides technical support and grant-aid funding to local authorities to deliver waste prevention and circular economy projects at a local level for the benefit of their communities – householders, businesses, schools. Through the network, knowledge and skills are shared. Lessons are learned through the development of innovative prevention projects. Several LAPN projects have grown from local to national level over the years, including www.repairmystuff.ie
The Local Authority Prevention Network (LAPN) has been running since 2009 and all local authorities in Ireland are involved. The EPA provides grant aid funding for innovative waste prevention projects, also provides technical support and training and networking opportunities. The objective is to build capacity and expertise within local authorities to deliver waste prevention and circular economy activities at local level.
Innovative projects that support repair initiatives, prevent waste (e.g. food waste, hazardous waste), that prevent consumption of single use items, that green festivals and events, that deliver paint reuse initiatives in communities are all examples of the types of projects funded over the years.
Below is a list of the projects funded in 2021.
| THEME: Reuse and Repair | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Local Authority | Region | Project | Description |
| 1 | Carlow | Southern | Ah Camán reuse & repair |
Campaign to collect donated hurleys and carry out repairs where needed. Video with hurley repair business on the maintenance and repair of hurls. |
| 2 | Cork County & Cork City | Southern | Revive Paint |
Building on the 2020 LAPN project which resulted in the creation of two circular economy paint reuse enterprises in West Cork and Cork City with “Revive Paint” branding. Assist social enterprises to develop sustainable paint businesses by boosting sales through advertising, promotion and awareness raising. |
| 3 | Donegal | Connacht-Ulster | Repair My Stuff |
Supporting www.repairmystuff.ie by identifying local repair organisations and registering them on the website. Raising awareness locally of the online repair directory service including trade magazines, radio and print media. |
| 4 | Kilkenny | Southern | Reuse & Recycle |
Supporting five reuse/repair projects:
|
| 5 | Monaghan | Connacht-Ulster | Carrickmacross Toy Library |
Supporting Carrickmacross Toy Library, the first toy library in the country, through promotion and sourcing toys for reuse. |
| 6 | Wicklow | Eastern-Midlands | Repair & Recycle |
Fostering a culture of bike repair through maintenance workshops and raising awareness of bike repair options. Developing recycling centres as waste prevention hubs. |
| THEME: Reduction of single use items | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Local Authority | Region | Project | Description |
| 7 | Cavan | Connacht-Ulster | Installation of school water fonts | Drinking water fonts in secondary schools |
| 8 | Donegal | Connacht-Ulster | Installation of school water fonts | Drinking water fonts in secondary schools |
| 9 | Galway City | Connacht- Ulster |
Ditch the Disposables Coffee Cup Campaign |
Coffee Cup Deposit Scheme in Galway City |
| 10 | Galway County | Connacht-Ulster | Installation of school water fonts | Drinking water fonts in secondary schools |
| 11 | Laois | Eastern-Midlands | Installation of water font | Outdoor drinking water font on Laois Blueway |
| 12 | Limerick City & County | Southern | Installation of water font |
Outdoor drinking water fonts in Limerick City & County |
| 13 | Monaghan | Connacht-Ulster | Installation of water fonts |
Outdoor drinking water fonts in Monaghan |
| 14 | Waterford City & County | Southern |
Installation of water fonts Green Your Picnic 2022 |
Outdoor drinking water fonts at blue flag beaches A Green Your Picnic Campaign |
| 15 | Wexford | Southern |
Installation of water fonts Green Your Picnic 2022 |
Outdoor drinking water fonts at blue flag beaches A Green Your Picnic Campaign |
| THEME: WASTE PREVENTION | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Local Authority | Region | Project | Description |
| 16 | Dublin City and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Eastern-Midlands | Circular Economy Training for Businesses | MODOS (circular economy business training) roll out in Dublin City & Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
| 17 | Galway City | Connacht-Ulster | Sustainable Business Communities |
Galway’s West End Sustainable Business Communities Initiative |
| 18 | Wicklow | Eastern-Midlands | Wicklow Naturally Goes Circular | Webinar to introduce circular economy principles to network of businesses in food production and hospitality sectors |
