Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Monday, February 11, 2019
Minister Bruton Announces Government will Lead the Way in Reducing Single Use Plastics
From
today, no government department or agency will buy single-use plastic cups,
cutlery or straws for use within their offices
Green
procurement advanced
All
government departments and agencies to develop resource efficiency plans
The
Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Minister
Richard Bruton T.D. today (Friday the 4th
of January) announced that government departments, public bodies,and schools
will lead the way in the response to cutting down on single use plastics, with
a number of measures, including no longer purchasing single-use plastic cups,
cutlery and straws for use within their offices.
The
Minister is currently developing an all of government plan to make Ireland a
leader in responding to climate change. The Minister yesterday (Thursday the 3rd
of January) secured government approval to bring in a number of measures which
will see government departments and agencies lead the way in the revolution
that is needed.
Speaking
at the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun, Minister Bruton will say, "The
public service must be the first to show that it takes policies for sustainability
seriously, if we are to persuade the rest of society to make the step changes
which we need to make.
"Today
the government has approved a plan, to stop purchasing single use plastic, to
cut waste in food and paper, to improve efficiency in the use of energy and
water and to reshape procurement to choose sustainable options. Every year the
public service spends €12 billion in procuring goods, services and works. By
adopting green procurement, not only will government lead by example, but also help
create a new market for sustainable goods and services."
From
today,
·
No government
department will purchase single-use plastic cups, cutlery and straws for use
within their offices
·
All government
departments will develop resource efficiency action plans by the end of June
this year. These plans will help staff make savings in energy and water
use as well as preventing food waste and maximising recycling.
·
The Department
will work with the Office of Government Procurement to bring forward proposals
on how national public procurement policy can take account more fully of
environmental matters. This will ensure state contracts include the full life
cycle cost of our purchases. These proposals are to be finalised by the end of
March 2019.
In
addition, all public bodies including state agencies and schools will not
purchase single-use plastic beverage cups, cutlery and drinking straws after 31
March 2019, except where specific public health/hygiene or safety issues arise.
All
public bodies are required to report to its respective Minister by end-November
2019 on the measures it is taking to minimise waste generation and maximise
recycling.
Minister
Bruton said, "Ireland is way off course in our response to climate
disruption. It practical steps like these that put us on a sustainable path
which is essential if we are to achieve our ambition to become a leader. I am
committed to putting us on the right trajectory to meet our obligations. "
The
Government is implementing these measures ahead of broader proposals relating
to single-use plastic items being negotiated at EU level. Draft EU
legislation proposes new rules targeting the 10 most prevalent single-use
plastic products found on Europe's beaches and seas, as well as lost and
abandoned fishing gear, which together account for 70% of all marine litter.
The proposal includes a ban on certain single use plastic products such as
plastic straws, cutlery, cotton buds and balloon sticks.
Friday, February 8, 2019
Biodiversity Workshops
The Living Science workshops was delivered to our second year students today,
Many thanks To Robin Wild ( Environmental Scientist) and the Science Dept for facilitating this for the Green Schools
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
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