Environment « Thurles Information

Plans To Put Fun Back Into Picnicking.

My Waste outlines plans to put fun back into ‘Picnicking’, while taking 2.25 million single-use bottles & cups out of circulation this June Bank Holiday weekend.

More than 2.25 million single use plastic bottle and cups are used in Ireland each Bank Holiday Weekend.
My Waste has some simple tips for enjoying the great outdoors and picnicking with less waste and stress this Summer.

Planning ahead for dining in the great outdoors this June bank holiday weekend will help reduce waste, keep millions of single use cups, bottles and cutlery from ending up in our waste system or as litter and reduce costs to local businesses, according to My Waste.

Each day in Ireland more than half a million single use coffee cups, and close to a quarter of a million single use plastic bottles are used – the equivalent of 2.25million single use cups and bottles over a bank holiday weekend.

My Waste, Ireland’s official guide to waste management, is appealing to day-trippers and holiday makers to reduce waste and leave no trace when picnicking and bench dining by following some simple tips:

1 – New is Not Always Best.

Exactly how much do you need for a picnic? Picnicking and bench dining are light hearted and fun events so don’t rush out to buy lots of new items for enjoying the great outdoors – use mis-matched plates and cutlery, old cushions and rugs etc. Lots of school supplies also work well for picnics such as lunch-boxes and water bottles.

2 – Reuse.

Bring your own cup/water bottle, cutlery & reusable straw etc…Using reusable cups and straws for take-away drinks and self-services not only helps to reduce this waste but also helps to reduce the cost to businesses. Tap water from home and topped up later for free at a refill.ie point will provide great hydration. A knife, fork & spoon wrapped in a cloth napkin fits in even the smallest bag.

3 – Portion Size Matters.

Be realistic about how much food will be eaten. Packing too much food is exhausting and a struggle to transport, and it is likely that it won’t all be used leading to food waste. Pack the food you like and know you will eat. Also – remember to leave room for ice-cream.

4 – Spice Up Your Life.

Have a favourite sauce or condiment? Use a small spice jar to transport a small quantity of your favourite spice or nominate one person on the picnic to bring the condiments and flavourings. If you must use sachets – only take what you need – nobody needs 20 sugars/ketchups – these will be wasted within minutes and they represent a big cost to business and to our environment.

5 – Bring it all Back Home.

Bring any waste you might have home and dispose of it in your domestic bin ensuring any food waste goes into the food waste bin and all recyclables are placed clean, dry and lose into the recycling bin.

Most of all – enjoy the Irish great outdoors this summer.

Speaking at the launch of the My Waste campaign, Minister of State Green Party Politician Mr Ossian Smyth said, “We can keep costs down for local businesses up and down the country this summer by simply bringing our own cups and containers and reducing the amount of single use items we use. Aside from the positive impact for our society and economy as we reopen, this will make a real difference to our local environment – we can prevent litter and plastic waste from single use items from polluting our natural beauty spots.”

Ms Pauline McDonogh, Waste Prevention Officer with the Southern Regional Waste Management Planning Office and My Waste spokesperson said, “By following My Waste’s simple tips holiday makers and day trippers can help protect Ireland’s beauty spots from litter and reduce unnecessary waste, all the while saving money, supporting small businesses and improving their outdoor experience.

Simply using reusable cups and bottles is a great way to minimise the amount of waste generated. It is worth noting that reusables were not banned during the Covid-19 pandemic. Government policy continues to promote contactless coffee and advocates for reusable options. There are also 1,500 free tap water points in businesses, public buildings and outdoor locations thanks to Refill Ireland”.

“After such a difficult year, it is important that we can enjoy all that Irish great outdoors have to offer. This can be achieved in a very stress-free way, by packing light or purchasing some edibles on route, using items we already have at home, and keeping that keep cup or water bottle close to hand”, she continued.

Blood Moon Over Tipperary Last Night.

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bad Moon Rising.

“I see the bad moon a-rising
I see trouble on the way
I see earthquakes and lightnin’
I see bad times today.”

Lyrics: John C. Fogerty.

[This song shown hereunder, back in the year 1969, evoked the civil discord, felt around the world, in relation to the then Vietnam War, without explicitly referring to that actual war].

Last evening, due to clear skies, Tipperary got more than a brief glimpse of this year’s supermoons; the Blood Moon.

The full moon entered our earth’s shadow yesterday, which made it appear much bigger and brighter in the heavens than is usual, however displaying a red tint.

A super blood moon, like last nights, occurs when the moon travels around our planet in an elliptical orbit, or an elongated circle, according to the space agency NASA.

Each month, the Moon passes through ‘perigee‘ (the point in the orbit of the moon at which it is nearest to the earths centre) and ‘apogee‘ (the point in the orbit of the moon or indeed any other object orbiting our earth that is at the greatest distance from the centre of our earth).

How To Build A Hedgehog Feeder & Highway.

The National Museum of Ireland has made its recent talk on hedgehogs available to access for free (see video hereunder) to celebrate Biodiversity Week 2021.

In this talk, Ms Elaine O’Riordan from the Irish Hedgehog Survey team at NUI Galway, teaches us all about hedgehogs and dispels some of the myths that exist around how hedgehogs live and what they eat.

Later in the talk, craftsman Pat Broderick demonstrates how to make a hedgehog feeder and hedgehog highway or tunnel from everyday items lying around homes and gardens. Hedgehogs are a must loved member of our natural community and this talk will be a fascinating reference for children, adults and schools.

The National Museum of Ireland are encouraging children to learn more about biodiversity in Ireland through their My Secret Garden activity. Available by clicking HERE, the My Secret Garden activity invites children to learn more about Irish flora and fauna and then apply what they have learned to imagine and create their own dream secret garden.

Biodiversity Week officially ends today, but our care and commitment to Irish biodiversity lasts all year round.

For ideas on caring for Ireland’s natural world, visit Biodiversityweek.ie or check out Thurles.info’s many articles on environmental issues and education.

Safeguarding Against Threats To Our Biodiversity.

In a week that celebrates the richness and beauty of Irish biodiversity (see HERE), it is important to raise awareness of potential environmental threats and take appropriate action to safeguard their future.

In the video hereunder, watch Galway based ecologist and Tidy Towns adjudicator, Ms Janice Fuller, talk about the invaluable role played by rivers, streams and wetlands in terms of flooding prevention and ecological biodiversity.

Ms Fuller also discusses the serious and damaging effect that even minor pollution events can have on river and wetland habitats. As Ms Fuller warns, the cumulative impact of various pollutants can be devastating on plants, animals and water quality.

Here at Thurles.info we have regularly celebrated the beauty of the River Suir and Riverside walkway. We have also highlighted pollution events occurring along the River Suir, which range from once-off to ongoing instances of environmental concern.

The latest major pollution event can be viewed along the River Suir on the Riverside Walk area. Same originates from a ground water pipe, governed by Tipperary Co. Council, which has had connected, a domestic, foul smelling, waste water system, thus polluting the river water.

**Current pollution of the River Suir, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.**

As part of efforts to safeguard against threats to our rich biodiversity, instances of pollution such as this need to be reported, so they can be assessed and investigated. The Environmental Protection Agency, who were highly critical of Irish Water’s urban wastewater plan in a 2019 report, host the National Environmental Complaints line (telephone 1850 365 121). Open 24 hours a day, members of the public can report instances of water pollution and other pollution events, including illegal dumping, littering, backyard burning, noise and smells.

For further information on making an environmental complaint visit EPA.ie (Environmental Protection Agency) by clicking HERE.

Chat With Ecologist & Tidy Towns Adjudicator Janice Fuller.

As part of ongoing events to celebrate Biodiversity Week, the Irish Community Archive Network (iCAN), in association with the National Museum of Ireland, will present an online talk with ecologist Ms Janice Fuller on Saturday afternoon, May 22nd at 2:00p.m.

Ms Fuller’s talk will explore a number of ideas for protecting and enhancing nature and wildlife in Irish towns, villages and urban areas.

Ms Fuller is an experienced ecologist, facilitates training on biodiversity and she is a Tidy Towns adjudicator.

Drawing on her many years of research and experience, Ms Fuller will share her wealth of knowledge on Irish flora, habitats and ideas for successful community initiatives.

Note: This is a free event but booking is required. For more information click HERE.