Minister Eamon Ryan TD Launches Reuse Month 2020

Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan TD has launched Reuse Month 2020 at a socially-distant event in Dublin.

This is the fifth year of the annual national waste prevention initiative, which takes place throughout October and aims to raise awareness about the benefits of reusing everyday items and materials that would otherwise go to waste.

As part of Reuse Month 2020 events will take place all over Ireland, and the emphasis this year is on virtual workshops due to Covid-19 guidelines.

Reuse Month also aims to highlight the value that can be found in everyday items and bring awareness to Ireland’s growing Circular Economy.

Developed by Ireland’s three Waste Management Planning Offices, Connacht Ulster, Eastern Midlands and Southern Region, the focus of this year’s Reuse Month will be on creativity, reuse, repair, and upcycling.

Flagship events will take place on October 8, October 15, and October 22, 2020 and all Reuse Month events are free of charge.

There is something for everyone during this year’s Reuse Month, from flagship events, blogs, video tutorials and specialised tutorials that will reflect this unique time in Irish life.

All activities are aimed at helping people gain skills in repair and reuse.

Among the highlights this year are workshops by RTÉ’s Home Rescue presenter Róisín Murphy, who will show participants how to revamp their home workspaces.

Gerard Griffin from the Rediscovery Centre will demonstrate how to breathe new life into old furniture during a creative furniture upcycling workshop.

Ireland’s local authorities are also showing their support for Reuse Month and have numerous events planned.

Minister Ryan said: “I’m delighted to see that Reuse Month is still happening in a time of Covid and continuing to inspire people to make use of items that may otherwise go to waste.

“Reuse is good for the environment and good for your pocket, and that applies to businesses and the state as well as the individual citizen.

“Those who reuse materials creatively will be at the vanguard of the move towards a circular economy.”

Declan Breen, Eastern Midlands Waste Management Planning Office, said: “This year’s Reuse Month activities will include interactive workshops, information campaigns, a podcast and video tutorials all of which are free to access and will help people gain the skills that they need to repair and reuse.

“It will also bring awareness to the circular economy which aims to keep resources in circulation for longer.”

For a full list of events and to book a place in any of the workshops or other events visit www.mywaste.ie.