Business-to-Business Green mentor programme for waste prevention
The B2B Green Mentor Programme for Limerick/Clare/Kerry encourages larger good practice companies to provide guidance on waste prevention, to small to medium enterprises (SMEs). Programme activities include a visit by SMEs to a host company for talks and plant tour, followed by individual guidance. The target was that eight good practice firms would take on the role of Green Mentor, which would include the hosting of waste prevention events. These events would provide a focal point, in that attendees would learn through direct information and observation and also that the events would lead to a follow-up programme with the individual SMEs.
Businesses were prompted to apply performance indicators, especially with regard to waste, energy and water. A number of companies, twenty to date, have implemented an environmental policy, outlining areas to be measured and with targets on waste reduction in a number of areas such as packaging and raw material process waste, recycling, energy and water use. Significant progress was made in a number of companies, with waste reduction initiatives resulting in direct savings or reduced supplier base, as, for example, one supplier became both supplier and recycler for one commodity. There was extensive publicity throughout the duration of the project, including coverage of the presentation of Certificates of Acknowledgement to each Green Mentor. The Limerick/Clare/Kerry Region plans to continue with the now established Programme, which has potential to be replicated by other bodies on a local, regional or national basis.
For further details, download the Limerick/Clare/Kerry Regional Waste Management Office PDF.
