Sign up as a skilled craftsperson and help reduce household waste

SKILLED craftspeople, seamstresses and repair men and women are in high demand in Cork as regional waste management offices work to reduce household waste.

The Southern Region Waste Management Office is currently compiling a database of craftspeople skilled in the area of repairing, reimagining and repurposing old items, from which they will engage key personnel for Reuse Month 2017.

Reuse Month 2017 is part of a nationwide initiative to change attitudes to old and disused objects, while encouraging people to repurpose, donate, sell or repair items and keep them out of landfill sites.

Irish people currently reuse less than two per cent of old bulky goods including furniture, with the majority of the remaining 98 per cent going to landfill.

Ireland has an obligation under the Waste Framework Directive to recycle 50 per cent of household waste by 2020, and a regional target of recycling 50 per cent managed Municipal Solid Waste by 2020 has also been set.

Households across the country will have to reduce their waste and increase their rate of recycling by an average of five per cent in the next three years.

Pauline McDonogh Waste Prevention Officer with the SRWMO said: “Repurposing, reusing and reimagining uses for old goods is a fun, cost effective and interesting way to meet those targets and reduce our waste. And people really seem to be coming on board with repairing and repurposing old furniture, clothes, bicycles and so many other items. There is the beginning of a societal move towards reusing and against throwing away items that can have a purpose once again,” she said.

“One man’s trash really is another’s treasure.”

“2016 saw Ireland’s first national Reuse Month coordinated by the three Regional Waste Management Offices and we’re delighted with the reaction we received,” said Ms McDonogh.

“Each local authority, including Cork City Council and Cork County Council hosted a programme of events including workshops, talks, and demonstrations that promoted all aspects of Reuse Month. Their aim was to inspire citizens to actively engage in reuse at a practical level, and it seems to have worked,” she added.

“Demand for this year’s event is high and we require even more facilitators and tutors to sign up before the end of August,” said Ms McDonogh. To apply about Reuse 2017, please email info@srwmo.ie for an application form before the end of August. The form will allow entrants to indicate their area of expertise, location, costs and other details.