Kilkee’s selection as Green Business Hub to build on Plastic Free initiative

Pictured (left to right): Mary Redmond, Kilkee Tidy Towns; John Saunders, Kilkee Chamber of Commerce; Maria Carey, Clare County Council; Karen Foley, Clare County Council; Councillor Cillian Murphy; and John Williams, Kilkee Tidy Towns.

KILKEE has been selected as one of the country’s first My Waste Green Business Hubs.

Necessary steps to protect and improve the environment will be easier for both businesses and visitors to Kilkee by the coastal West Clare destination becoming a Green Business Hub.

This partnership is with the Environment Section of Clare County Council in conjunction with Kilkee Chamber of Commerce, Kilkee Tidy Towns and My Waste Ireland. The aim of the Green Business Hub is to work with businesses and support staff, as well as customers, to firstly prevent and reduce waste generated, including food waste, as well as to separate waste into general waste, recycling, and food waste.

John Saunders, Kilkee Chamber of Commerce, explained, “Preventing and recycling waste will not only help reduce cost associated with waste disposal but it also supports climate action in the community”.

“This initiative is a great example of a circular economy initiative where there is a focus on keeping waste out of the general waste bin by preventing and reducing waste in the first instance and then recycling what cannot be reused,” said John Williams of Kilkee Tidy Towns.

Sustainable Development Goals such as responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land and partnership for the goals are all supported by the project, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) flagged. “Participating businesses will support sustainable tourism development in the region. Sustainable tourism reflects social, economic, and environmental wellbeing and in essence aligns to the Sustainable Development Goals”.

Executive engineer with Clare County Council, Maria Carey acknowledged, “By businesses looking at and taking steps to reduce their single use packaging it will help to reduce littering, particularly during busy periods”.

Work of The Green Business Hub will build on the Make Kilkee Plastic Free initiative, Karen Foley, Environmental Awareness Officer, Clare County Council believed. “This initiative is relevant to all businesses in Kilkee including cafes, bars, hotels, B&Bs, caravan parks and holiday homes. We look forward to building on the Make Kilkee Plastic Free initiative, working with and learning from business over the coming years”.

All participating businesses will receive a window sticker and will be listed on Clare County Council’s dedicated community engagement page. MyWaste.ie are making free signage available to help businesses separate waste into general waste, recycling and food waste. Clare County Council will further support businesses with waste audits and provide any necessary advice or guidance.

For more information on this initiative email: enviroff@clarecoco.ie