03-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Cork community groups funded to reduce single-use plastics
Cork County Council has awarded over €52,000 in funding to 23 community groups as part of its Circular Economy Fund. The fund, now in its second year, supports local communities to take actions that reuse, recycle, and minimise waste.
This year there's a particular focus on reducing single-use plastics. The 2025 fund invited applications from schools, Tidy Towns groups, sports clubs, and festival organisers, encouraging innovative proposals on how to reduce plastic waste.
A wide range of projects will be supported this year, including reusable cup schemes in the community, reusable container schemes for meals on wheels, and the installation of permanent water refill stations at sports grounds and in schools.
Other projects include community centres using reusable crockery rather than single-use plastics, and the provision of water stations at events.
The successful applicants include the Transition Town Kinsale voluntary group (reusable cup scheme), Millstreet Community School (installation of an internal water bottle filling station), and Ballymaloe Grainstore (reusable cups/containers).
'It is very encouraging to see so many communities across the county taking meaningful steps to address single-use plastics and embrace circular economy principles. These communities are spearheading change, and each action, whether big or small, has the potential to make a lasting impact,' said the Mayor of County Cork, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley.
'We are proud to work closely with local groups who continue to demonstrate vision, determination, and leadership in environmental stewardship. Their efforts are vital to making Cork a more sustainable place to live, work, and visit,' said Moira Murrell, Chief Executive of Cork County Council.
