Under the Water Services (No 2) Act 2013, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) approves Irish Water’s Water Charges Plan, which sets out water services charges with regard to new connections, special meter reads, meter testing, and charges for provision of water and wastewater services to domestic and non-domestic customers. In approving the Water Charges...

Lean was originally created by Toyota to eliminate waste and inefficiency in its manufacturing operations.  The process became so successful that it has been embraced in manufacturing sectors around the world. The goal of lean is to eliminate waste – the non-value-added components in any process or service. By its very nature Lean utilises the...

The EPA Fire Water Retention Guidance (Final Draft) Note provides guidance to operators of industrial activities on the requirements for, design and types of, firewater retention facilities.  The EPA first published its Guidance Note to Industry on Fire Water Retention Facilities in 1995.  This document is now being revised to update it to take into account...

Environmental regulatory compliance is an opportunity to optimise the management of resources to add value or create cost savings. Ireland has a well-developed system of environmental legislation, much of which implements European Union (EU) directives. Our clients work with ECOS because we: Know the legislation and how it applies to their business. Identify the most efficient...

Ireland, Europe, US, Australia and others have for a long time been dependent on China to take the poor quality plastic that they collect and do not have the infrastructure or capacity to use themselves. As of January 2018 China has decided it does not want the low value plastics Until more recycling plants are...

Whether your business is a small restaurant or a large multinational manufacturing industry, if it generates a wastewater which is discharged to a sewer, a discharge licence is required with very few exceptions. Irish Water are responsible for the issuing of discharge licences for effluents discharged to sewers under the provisions of Section 7 of...

GreenStart and GreenPlus funding is available to clients of Enterprise Ireland and Industrial Development Authority.  The funding programmes are available to enable businesses to improve their performance using environmental management to either save costs, increase value or grow sales. An environmental management structure can help your company achieve competitive advantage through greater resource efficiency (energy/water/waste/wastewater) and...

The Article 11 process is the mechanism which can be used where there is uncertainty as to which type of waste authorisation may required  – i.e. waste licence, waste facility permit, certificate of registration or none of these. Clarification can be sought from the Environmental Protection Agency to determine the question for you in advance...

Congratulations to Sorcha Taylor, based in ECOS Limerick office, who has been selected to become a Climate Ambassador, one of Irelands first and the first for Limerick and the Mid-West Region.

Recurring themes for successful businesses working with ECOS include: Environmental management is just another business tool.  It can either cost your business money, gain value for your business and/or grow sales. Waste is any resource where it’s value is not being optimised.  ECOS works with SME and Multinational businesses to optimise your Products, Processes and...