Household waste collected in Mayo County Council area has decreased by 32.1 per cent compared to the 2008 figures, according to the Environmental Protection Agency National Waste Report 2009.
In 2009 within the Mayo County Council area, 41,700 tonnes of household waste was collected, which is down from 61,411 tonnes in 2008. While progress is being made in dealing with this waste, the national target is to divert 50 per cent of all household waste from landfill by 2013. The mixed/residual collection (black bag ) household waste collected in the area was 24,953 tonnes or 60 per cent (compared to 55 per cent for the country as a whole ).
“The new EU Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC ), which came into effect in December 2010, will be a significant influence and driver of change in waste management practices and governance in Ireland and elsewhere over the coming decade,” said Gerry Byrne, programme manager, EPA office of climate, licensing, and resource use. “Such actions can assist everyone, in households and businesses alike, not only to improve resource efficiency, and protect their environment, but also to significantly cut household costs and bills.”
For example, food waste can be reduced by households following a number of simple tips available at www.stopfoodwaste.ie These include using and sticking to a shopping list (check your food stocks before you go ), not purchasing more food than is needed, watching out for “use-by” dates, not shopping when hungry (you will buy more if you are hungry! ) and not preparing too much food at home which is thrown out uneaten. Organic waste may also be diverted from landfill by home composting. Whilst this is not an option for everyone, homes with the facilities to do so have contributed to the 1,480 tonnes of waste being home composted in the Mayo County Council area. This is an increase of 4.2 per cent since last year.
The EPA funds lots of different waste management initiatives for households and businesses including the www.greenhome.ie and www.greenbusiness.ie initiatives. For further ideas and suggestions on how you can prevent and divert waste from landfill visit www.nwpp.ie
