Council could lead way in recycling coffee cups
FLEADH IS IDEAL CHANCE TO BRAND REUSABLE CUPS
THE global debate over the ‘coffee cup’ culture and its impact on the environment was raised at the January meeting of Louth County Council.
A motion by Cllr. Frank Godfrey calling on the local authority to lobby the Minister on the recycling of plastics was widely supported.
Cllr. Godfrey asked ‘ That Louth County Council lobbies the Minister for the Environment to introduce deposits on plastic bottles and cans in efforts to stop pollution of our towns, countryside, rivers and coastline with these products. ‘
He added: This is imperative, especially as Louth County Council no longer accepts plastic bottles for recycling at local authority bring banks.’
He said some of the scenes were scandalous and he wanted the situation tackled.
Cllr. Anne Campbell seconded the motion, saying ‘I do think Louth County Council have a role to play in this issue.’
She added that there was global concern about the mounting number of coffee cups which are thrown away, material that cannot be recycled.
Recent figures had shown that 200 million had ended up in landfills across Ireland.
She told the meeting that Cork County Council had recently introduced an initiative, giving re-usable coffee cups to staff, councillors and members of the public.
Cllr. Campbell said there was an opportunity for the local authority to play their part in tackling the issue.
‘ The Fleadh is an opportunity for the council to brand a re-usable mug, which could be made available, as there will be a lot of people drinking coffee during the events.
She added that it could be used to promote the Fleadh, but also have a positive impact on the environment.
Cllr. Marianne Butler said that she would also like to support the motion.
She said that there was growing concern about how coffee cups were going to be disposed of as from January 1st, China were refusing to accept coffee cup waste.
‘It is turning into a global disaster,’ said Cllr Butler.
She supported the calls to lobby the Minister on the issue of plastics.
‘We all need to stop and think about our interaction with plastics, even in this council chamber where we have plastic cups for water.’
Cllr Maria Doyle also added her support for the motion, saying that a lot of schools had already become very aware of their responsibilities in the area of recycling, particularly plastics.
She gave her support to the calls for coffee cups to be branded for the Fleadh, adding that she had received a re-usable cup from Blackrock Tidy Towns, which she still uses. She added that writing to the Minister would be ‘very worthwhile’.
Cllr. John McGahon also supported the motion, saying that there are eight businesses in Louth which are currently offering discount if people bring in re-usable cups for coffee.
He pointed out that three of these businesses are in Carlingford. He had also received a re-usable cup from Carlingford Tidy Towns which he continues to use.
Cllr. Emma Coffey said she supported calls that Cllr. Mark Dearey had made about talking to local fast food providers in relation to the reducing the waste they produce.