Ireland’s first draft circular economy strategy includes an Innovation Grant program and the successor to the National Waste Management Plan.

Climate activity is intensifying across Europe. Recent ventures in Ireland include a new $ 10 million fund to help businesses compete in the low-carbon future and a five-year training program to help them prepare for the effects of the climate crisis.

Today (April 16) marks the beginning of a new step towards a sustainable future, with the government publishing the first draft of the National Strategy for the Transition to a Circular Economy. He scored five goals in 2021 and 2022.

First, it will provide a national policy framework for the transition to Ireland’s circular economy. It will support and implement measures to significantly reduce Ireland’s circulation gap so that by 2030 the rate will be higher than the European Union average. Education and public engagement are on the agenda, as well as to identify and address barriers to helping the Irish transition and encouraging investment. In the circular economy.

“We are currently developing a government strategy to ensure the transition to a circular economy in Ireland and to take advantage of the opportunities available to the circular economy,” said TD Environment, Climate and Communications Minister Eamon Ryan.

These opportunities include reducing waste, reducing carbon footprint, supporting local and regional economic development, developing new business models, and creating skilled jobs.

Innovation Grant Program

The strategy promises to support and encourage investment in the circular economy through balanced local economic growth and employment.

To this end, the Government has announced the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Program to support projects of social enterprises, voluntary and community groups and businesses with less than 50 employees.

The total 2021 funding for this call is $ 250,000, with funding ranges for projects ranging from $ 10,000 to $ 50,000.

Applications are welcome in a number of thematic areas, including plastics, food waste, construction and demolition waste, resources, and raw materials. For example, projects may focus on product-redesigning for end-of-life recycling or to enhance the recovery of listed critical raw materials.

Circular Economy Program

Another component of the strategy is the Circular Economy Program, which makes the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Waste Disposal Program a success.

Bringing 15 years of waste management expertise into the EPA program. The government said the new venture will target areas that use the most resources and areas with the highest potential for circulation. It will also seek to change the nature of waste prevention by developing targeted roadmaps on food waste and plastics.

The program will help to realize business opportunities by further supporting businesses during transformation, supporting new business models, promoting resource efficiency and maintaining material value through increased use of secondary and recyclable materials.

The program “translates the aspirations of the National Circle into the day-to-day operations of workplaces and homes across Ireland,” said EPA Ireland Director Laura Burke.

“Creating a resource-efficient economy and a vibrant society requires rapid and profound transformation in all sectors,” she said. “We want to hear from our partners with our views on the goals and priorities of the event.”

The EPA calls on people across the country to comment on a public consultation on the new program. He will receive responses until 5:30 pm on Friday, June 11th.