As a nation we already reuse a certain amount, but we can do more. A poll by Ireland Thinks found that 23% of those surveyed had purchased reused goods in the previous six months. The vast majority of Irish consumers purchased reused goods from charity shops, with online shopping the second favoured option. According to a 2017 PWC survey 29% of Irish consumers purchase reused goods on line.”
Reuse has obvious benefits to the environment, but there are also huge knock on effects for our personal finances and the general economy,” she added.
CRNI is the all-Ireland representative body for community based reuse, recycling and waste prevention organisations.
Its member reused an estimated 20,400 tonnes of goods last year and recycled over 57,000 tonnes. Their efforts sustained more than 800 jobs, 350 job scheme training positions and 7,600 voluntary positions resulting in a turnover of more than €80 million.
But it is not all bad news. Most people reuse items on a daily basis whether it is borrowing a book from a library or a friend, shopping for a special present in an antique shop or passing on a school uniform from one child to the next. Reuse Month is about building on that good work, and becoming more aware of how we can reuse even more everyday items rather than just disposing of them.”
Reuse Month 2018 will begin with the CRNI conference Everyday Reuse – Engaging Consumers & Business on September 27, 2018 in the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin.
For a full list of events during Reuse Month and further tips on how to reuse more see www.reusemonth.ie
Claire Downey CRNI Executive said, “It is estimated that we disposed or recycled 2.5 million tonnes of waste in 2014*, making our reuse rate less than 1% of that total. Even if five times this amount was reused, taking account of any online exchanges, vintage stores, swap sites or car boot sales not included in the CRNI study, it still indicates that less than 5% of all of the goods we throw away are actually reused,” she added.
