The team behind local social enterprise, Bounce Back Recycling (BBR ) stole the show in last week’s Nationwide episode which focused on circular economy and positive projects that reduce waste going to landfill.
“It is great to see a Traveller-led business being profiled on national television,” said BBR manager Keith McDonagh, “It is also a huge boost to our efforts to stop thousands of mattresses being dumped by recycling them instead.”
Established in 2017 by Galway Traveller Movement (GTM ), BBR have played an integral role in reducing the environmental impact associated with mattress and furniture disposal. It takes around 100 years for a mattress to decompose and breakdown, and to date BBR have diverted more than 100,000 mattresses from landfill, each mattress is then broken down into components that are recycled and reused by local businesses. In Galway alone, approximately 32,500 mattresses are disposed of each year.
“That’s enough to fill Pearse Stadium on Connacht Final day, even though landfill space is quickly running out. It costs around €180 to dump mattresses this way, an estimated loss of over €5.8 million to the local economy,” said Keith.
The ‘original recyclers’
“For us it links back to Tinsmithing and the time when Travellers were probably leading the idea of circular economy long before we knew what it was,” said BBR founder, Martin Ward. “Looking at the history of Traveller tins mithing is a big part of the reason why we want BBR to go national, because we would have done it before, and know it can be done.
“What we would say is that we have reinvented ourselves and are very proud of reclaiming our community’s space as the original recyclers on this island.”
Breaking down barriers to employment
Unemployment within the Travelling community runs at a figure of 80 per cent, a number that is far higher than other ethnic minorities. These figures directly parallel a study looking at employment practices which revealed that 80 per cent of employers ‘would not employ a Traveller’.
“We are a community who spends more time looking at the ground than at the sun because of how we have been treated in society. Now we can actually see them blossom and grow in confidence because of how they are treated here, and how they are valued. As time goes on you can see that confidence grow to the point that if they want to, they feel like they can go out and apply for a job in an area that they want.
“It has been fantastic to see people thrive,” said Martin.
Not having to hide who they are
The rise of BBR and the growth of the organisation paved the way for its sister enterprise, Bounce Back Upcycling (BBU ) a craft based business which recycles and reupholsters furniture. Both enterprises are Traveller-led, overseeing teams made up of individuals from within the community, resulting in employment opportunities, training and the teaching of transferable skills that will serve employees in their future careers.
“I am very proud of Bounce Back Upcycling and the girls,” said BBU manager, Anne-Marie McDonagh. “It is a great opportunity for ourselves and the girls working here that they are employed, and that they can be proud of being a Traveller and proud of the products they produce.
“The girls don’t have to hide their identity here, or wear the mask. They can stand proud of being a Traveller.”
Traveller employment opportunities are a deeply embedded core in BBR and BBU, and as role models they inspire those from the community to follow their dreams, or bring a goal they have to life.
“We are a wide community with members who are doctors, solicitors, senators. Like everyone else we don’t just want to be boxed away into one area. This social enterprise is one solution, but it should not be the only one,” said Martin.
Start small, dream big
In the five years since it was established BBR has come a long way, and has ambitions to go a great deal further. Under Ireland’s Landfill Directive, organisations like BBR and BBU will play an integral part in increasing recycling across households, businesses and municipal and businesses operated by the State.
“What we want to be able to do is to provide our service to everyone, regardless of where you are, whether you are in Donegal, Dublin or in Clifden for example. Our environmental remit remains the same no matter the location.”
