Is Zero Waste Possible, asks Mindy O'Brien

Read the full article in Issue 56 - Winter 2016/’17 of ‘Changing Ireland’!

Flick through the pages or download the PDF here: http://bit.ly/CI-Iss56-Winter2016-17

Not all borrowing is bad

- We need to share more, writes Mindy O'Brien of 'VOICE'.

Not all borrowing is bad. We’re not talking about money for once, but borrowing and loaning out items that reduce the amount of waste and needless dumping in society.  But is zero waste possible? Can we chuck out our bins and live with no waste at all?

   Unfortunately not, as our current system of supplying consumers prevents us from achieving lower levels of waste easily. Between plastic wrapped bags of fruits and vegetables and over packaged products, zero waste seems out of reach.

   However, the definition of ‘zero waste’ is forgiving. It refers to the journey towards zero waste rather than the destination. It means looking at current consumption patterns and finding solutions through waste prevention, re-using and repairing products and recycling and composting.

   Zero waste embraces a ‘circular economy model’, which turns the current ‘linear consumption model’ on its head. Instead of extracting, consuming and disposing of valuable natural resources, we can redesign products to be easily repairable, reusable and recyclable.

   We can work with industry to adopt new manufacturing practices to reduce the amount of waste. In this way, we won’t continue the current practice of using and destroying non-renewable natural resources such as rare earth metals and minerals.

   Zero waste also looks at how to share products rather than purchasing new items. It is estimated that each electric drill is only used around ten minutes in its lifetime, unless the user is in the trade or an avid DIYer. We are used to borrowing books from our libraries, so why not create a tool lending library so we can borrow tools and little used items as well?

Many communities, large and small, have embarked on their zero waste journey.

For example, Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country, has reversed its waste trend, going from 30% recycling and 70% residual waste to 70% recycling and 30% residual waste in just three years.

   San Francisco is also a very successful zero waste community. It has done this through local action and local ordinances. Local government has banned polystyrene packaging, requires food businesses to use compostable or easily recyclable packaging for all food takeaway containers, has banned plastic bags and banned the sale of bottled water in public spaces.

   California also has a container deposit/refund scheme where consumers pay a deposit on all drinks containers which is returned when the container is brought back.

Voice of Irish Concern for the Environment (VOICE) has started work to make Cashel, Co. Tipperary, the first zero waste community in Ireland.

“Share products rather than purchasing new items. It is estimated that each electric drill is only used around ten minutes in its lifetime.”

   We have begun meeting and consulting with local champions, groups and the county council. Zero waste must be a bottom up movement with the full engagement and commitment from local residents and businesses.

   We hope that through zero waste we not only benefit the environment through reducing the amount of generated waste, but also benefit the economy through reduced waste costs, the establishment of new businesses (reuse, repair, leasing and recycling) and social enterprises.

    Such businesses have been created in other zero waste communities. A thriving compostable packaging sector has popped up in San Francisco to meet demand, a nappy composting business was established in England, and leasing services, such as Airbnb, Dublin Bikes, and GoCar, have been hugely successful.

   In Ireland, new social enterprises have also popped up, including FoodCloud, which redistributes surplus short-dated food from shops to charities to feed those who face food poverty each day. In two years, they have rescued enough food to provide over two million meals.

   In Cork, Boomerang collects and deconstructs old mattresses so that the steel and paddling can be turned into new products.

   Charity shops ensure that unwanted items find new homes. There are many new ventures in this area, which not only preserve valuable resources, but generate local jobs.

   The promotion of zero waste and the circular economy has a win, win, win effect. It benefits the environment, creates new local businesses and jobs and pulls the community together towards a common cause. It’s a sustainable consumption model that can be rolled out throughout Ireland, community by community.

This article by Mindy O’Brien of Voice, is based on a presentation she made at the UCC Credit Union Summer School, organised by the Centre for Co-operative Studies, UCC.

How to run a local ‘Food Rescue’

VOICE is an environmental charity working on waste 

and water issues. 

Among the things it does best are ‘Food Rescues’ which 

involves recovering food that is edible, but often not saleable.

Call them if you’d like to see one held in your area.

“Our champions will organise the collection of 

short-dated food from local shops, farms or other food 

businesses which will then be prepared to make a delicious 

meal to share with their neighbours. They have already held 

events counties Sligo, Cork, Leitrim, Carlow, Wicklow and Fingal.

VOICE is supported through Local Agenda 21 contributions.

W: voiceireland.org E: info@voiceireland.org. T: 01-642-5741.

T: @voice_ireland Also on Facebook.