REUSE AND RECYCLE WHERE POSSIBLE

REUSE AND RECYCLE

The Clonakilty Waste and Recycling Centre is back operating usual hours after the Christmas holidays. Before taking any item to the centre, people should take a look at what they intend taking. Frequently, people take unwanted items to the recycling centre that could very well be reused by other people.

Clonakilty has four very good charity shops who will take many items that are in good condition, and resell them on thereby making a profit for the organisation, but just as importantly, providing a service to people who may not be in a position to buy such items at normal full cost. This also helps with the environment, by reducing waste going to the recycling centre and often ultimately, into landfill.

Toys, furniture, clothing, ornaments, working electrical items, books, magazines, computers, pots and pans – in fact practically anything in good condition is accepted at any of the charity shops – St. Vincent de Paul Shop, Connolly St.; Irish Wheelchair Association Shop, Pearse St.; The Children’s Charity Shop, Spiller’s Lane or Mrs. Quinn’s Charity Shop, Ashe St.

The golden rule is to check beforehand if they will accept the item you wish to hand in, and only give things in a condition that you would buy yourself. The Charity Shops have often been used as dumping centres for items that are useless and cannot be resold. Also, it is an offence to let items outside of them - they must be taken in and handed to a volunteer staff member.

And there are other items that are useless to others but can also be given to any of the local schools who in turn receive money for them. Old Mobile Phones, Clothes, Batteries, etc. are accepted in some of the local schools. Again check beforehand to see what they will take. It is only then that people should load up and go to the recycling centre with the remaining items.

And to be practical, having the different categories of waste sorted before arriving at the centre can save a lot of time there. It is amusing sometimes to witness people at the recycling centre arriving with bags and boxes of mixed items and then spend a half an hour running from one disposal bunker to another, often struggling in wind and rain.

I find myself that sorting the items BEFORE leaving home saves a lot of time and hassle at the recycling centre. All the plastic wrappings and cartons are put into a plastic bag which is tied at the neck and simply dropped into the appropriate chute at the recycling centre. Similarly, I put papers/newspapers into a paper bag and drop the whole lot down the chute. I then use unwanted cardboard boxes for the tetrapak, bottles and cardboard itself, and when emptied simply crush the boxes and put them into the cardboard chute.

I'm not trying to lecture people here, but simply offer a little advice how life could be that bit easier with a little preparation. It also helps to keep the recycling centre tidy, by avoiding papers and other items falling and blowing around. The staff there are excellent and work hard to provide a good service to people. They have enough to be doing that brushing up the waste that people bring because they are badly packed.

Maybe this could be a new year's resolution - only take whatever can't be used by anyone else to the recycling centre, and prepare and sort items at home for a quicker visit there.