The European Commission has launched it’s circular economy package and measures to promote reparability in the design phase of products. The aim of circular economy is to “close the loop of product lifecycles through greater recycling and re-use, and bring benefits for both the environment and the economy”. The circular economy package will receive €5.5bn from...

Have you ever seen an audience turn off when sustainability, resource management or regulatory compliance is being discussed.  Perhaps consideration of some or all of the following may help you to be more engaging: Too technical  â€“ using language that is incomprehensible Jargon â€“ lazy thinking  – jargons need translating into everyday terms Ambiguous – either...

The circular economy eliminates the concept of waste and recognises that everything has a value.  This includes looking at waste as the underutilisation of resources. Circular supply chain:  Introduces fully renewable, recyclable, or biodegradable materials that can be used in consecutive life cycles. Recovery and recycling:  Creates production and consumption systems in which everything that used to be considered...

The Environmental Liability Directive 2004/35/EC establishes a framework based on the “polluter pays” principle to prevent and remediate environmental damage. This framework aims at ensuring that the economic operator bears the financial consequences from harm or damage  caused to the environment.  “Environmental damage” is defined as damage to protected species and natural habitats, damage to water or...

Resource Efficiency offers a clear win-win scenario by achieving real savings through reducing wastage.  ECOS provide technical support to the Resource Exchange, which facilitates recovery/reuse of wastes/resources – #circulareconomy The Europe 2020 strategy highlights the fact that resource efficiency is crucial to securing growth and jobs for Europe. Ireland’s National Waste Prevention Programme has successfully...

The EPA have published guidelines for research project communication plans.  Communication is a vehicle for demonstrating the value of a research project and soliciting feedback from stakeholders to improve the quality of a research project. Formal communication plans allow a project team to foster an understanding of the research project and its benefits to all...

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) current Strategic Plan 2013-2015, Working with Others for a Better Environment sets out how a clean, healthy and well protected environment lies at the heart of economic recovery. The EPA is seeking the views of the public on it’s draft strategy 2016-2020. The 2016 – 2020 builds on the need for sustainability and...

Financial Provision is a mechanism which the EPA employ to ensure that the State is not exposed to clean-up costs associated with environmental incidents be they historical or more recent. Financial provision is defined as putting in place a financial instrument or other approved financial provision to cover the full cost of remedial measures if an incident...

We are looking forward to learning about your businesses at the Autumn Business Expo. Tuesday 6th October from 6-8pm at N. Conlan & Sons Ltd on the Tipperary Road, Limerick. Please join us at the ECOS stand. Water Waste Wastewater Resource Exchange #circulareconomy

Many of businesses need to manage contaminated land and groundwater, arising either from historical site activities or a more recent site incident.  The EPA have published guidance on the management of contaminated land and groundwater at EPA licensed facilities. The guidance presents the risk based approach which is considered to be best practice for the assessment and remediation...