Local Authorities in the LAPD Programme are tackling the challenge of waste prevention in partnership with businesses, public organisations and communities in their areas. The LAPD Programme, which is an initiative of the National Waste Prevention Programme, is providing financial and technical support to the local authorities involved to assist them in this task. The experience and case studies generated by the LAPD Programme will be used to implement further waste prevention initiatives on completion of the LAPD Programme.
Moving from Waste Management to Prevention Local authorities in Ireland have already radically changed how we deal with our waste. Single bin collections of mixed waste are now a thing of the past and have been replaced by segregated waste collection supported by a network of bring banks and civic amenity sites. The result: we have achieved national targets for the recovery of recyclables from municipal waste seven years ahead of schedule.
But recycling is only part of the answer. We won't see its environmental benefits if we do not reduce the overall amount of waste we create. Although the recycling loop is much better than dead-end landfilling, it still takes a toll on the environment. Energy and other resources are used in the collection and sorting of recyclables and again in the remanufacture of materials into new products. Preventing the creation of waste in the first place is the only way to provide real environmental benefit.
The Local Authorities are working on doing just this. Building on their experience of working with businesses and communities in their areas to introduce recycling, they are now working to encourage them to reduce their consumption of materials, water and energy and to make sure they are getting the best value from the resources they do use.
LAPD Initiatives
Local authorities were invited to apply for grant-aid and to propose projects that focus on:-
A new booklet to help publicans cut costs and improve their environmental performance was launched in May 2009. The booklet Calling Time on Waste: a publican's handbook to a leaner, greener cost base is the result of a collaboration between the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, Monaghan County Council and the EPA, and will be distributed to VFI members throughout the country. View the Calling Time on Waste booklet.
A booklet to help farmers cut costs and improve their environmental performance will be launched at Tydavnet Agricultural Show, Co. Monaghan on Saturday 16th August 2008. View details on Farming the Environment booklet.
Phase 1 of the LAPD Programme began in July 2006 and the following seven local authorities are involved
Phase 2 of the LAPD Programme began in July 2006 and the following seven local authorities are involved
Supports
Local Authorities involved in the LAPD Programme received a number of supports to assist them to demonstrate prevention.
Financial Support
Technical Support
Clean Technology Centre at Cork Institute of Technology is providing technical know how to the local authorities in the programme. CTC has extensive experience in implementing prevention programmes. The technical support provided by the programme will assist local authorities to overcome the traditional barrier of lack of expertise in this field.
Prevention Training Course
CTC and EPA have developed a HETAC accredited training programme to provide LAPD participants and other local authority staff with knowledge and technical skills necessary to develop, conduct, lead and manage waste prevention or minimisation strategies within their own or other organisations. The aim of this new certified programme is to provide participants with the knowledge and technical skills necessary, to develop, conduct, lead and manage waste prevention or minimisation strategies within their organisation or for others.
Networking of participants through quarterly meetings of programme participants. These meetings are tailored to meet the needs of the speakers and has included speakers from IBEC, REPAK (Packaging Prevention Programme), Irish Hospitality Solutions, Sustainable Energy Ireland, Geography Department TCD, WWF and EPA STRIVE.
Co-ordinators Group This group is drawn from LAPD participants and helps direct the programme.
Annual Conference The first LAPD Conference was held on February 7th 2008. This was an opportunity for local authorities to learn about international and LAPD prevention case studies that are already proving successful and to get ideas for how they may use prevention to help their local authority reduce waste generation in specific sectors.
Learn MoreRead more about all the LAPD initiatives View the programme website Read speaker presentations from LAPD Conference on 7th February, 2008.
In October 2008, a call for proposals for funding under the new Local Authority Prevention Network was issued. Local authorities were invited to submit proposals for prevention programmes and to request grant funding to support the appointment or allocation of local waste prevention officers to work with business and communities in their areas. Applications must be received by 16 January 2009. Applicants are advised to read all relevant documents (below).
View the call for proposals document
View the application form
View the application budget outline
