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03/06/25 We welcome the opportunity to make Ireland's waste collection system better. VOICE estimates that following current trends, Ireland is in significant danger of failing to achieve targets for packaging waste as set out in the PPWR, on track for a 64% increase by 2040 rather than the targeted 15% decrease, 98% of people we surveyed are frustrated with the quantity of waste that needs to be segregated, while the EPA has highlighted increasing levels of contamination in bins, and decreasing recycling rates over the last 5 years, warning of impending missed municipal and packaging recycling targets.
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11/07/2025 Post Brexit, we believe it is timely to examine this area of regulation (which is based on UK standards) and align with EU methodology. We, at VOICE, call for the department to follow option 2 as outlined in the call; Repeal the Irish Furniture Fire Regulations, and Rely on the General Product Safety Regulation. We do this for three reasons; a)more sustainable design, b) reduces conflicting regs and c) due to the adverse effects, and questionable effectiveness of many of the existing flame retardants and testing regime used in the UK.
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As plastic pollution continues to pose a serious global threat to human health, ecosystems, and biodiversity, nations are negotiating a new Global Plastics Treaty, formally known as the International Legally Binding Instrument (ILBI), on plastic pollution. A team of Master’s students in Environmental and Natural Resources Law at University College Cork (UCC), under the guidance of Professor Owen McIntyre, has produced an extensive report for VOICE critically analysing the treaty’s progress and the many legal and political challenges that remain.
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As negotiations continue on a legally binding global treaty to end plastic pollution, VOICE, a member of the Break Free From Plastic movement, has written to the Irish Government urging strong leadership and ambition at the upcoming INC-5.2 meeting in Geneva this August '25.
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As 2024 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on all that we’ve achieved together—and we couldn’t have done it without you! This years Newsletter is Jam PACKED. It really has been a very busy year for us. So, stick on the kettle, sit back and enjoy reflecting on all that we have done in 2024.
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98% of us are frustrated by the sheer volume of waste at home, and communities are stepping up to avoid single-use plastics. Yet, over 70% of our waste is exported, creating problems for other nations.
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The first-ever cross European analysis of the role European supermarkets play in addressing plastic pollution. “Under wraps? What Europe’s supermarkets aren’t telling us about plastic” is a result of collaboration of over 20 NGOs, members of Break Free from Plastic movement, from across Europe. Here in Ireland, the Sick of Plastic Campaign has facilitated this report, reaching out to Ireland’s top five Supermarkets; Dunnes Stores, Supervalu (Musgraves), Tesco, LIDL and ALDI.
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This document outlines a solid framework for the shift toward a circular economy, we believe greater ambition is required to pivot business as usual toa truly circular economic model, we must ensure that one single-use disposable material is not substituted with another.
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By understanding the significance of post-consumer textiles, we can make ask for better options that resonate with sustainability. Every piece of clothing we discard is a potential resource that can be repurposed, recycled, or reused. But for that to happen, we need a collective effort to hold collectors accountable and ensure that discarded clothes are managed responsibly.
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Dive into the pages of our End-of-Year newsletter—it's a celebration of victories, a reflection on challenges, and a heartfelt 'thank you' to our incredible community. Your impact is woven into every word. Click to open and share the journey with us!
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Are your bins overflowing? Find out who is responsible!
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We want to continue examining waste reduction in apartments. Organic waste is a significant source of contamination of recyclable material and is often overlooked in MUD waste services, so we have adapted the programme to examine this waste stream. This is a pilot programme and is open to Multi Unit Developments (that is any site with a shared bin area- most commonly apartment complexes, but housing estates with a shared bin service are also common in Ireland).
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VOICE Ireland publishes ‘Public Waste, Out of Sight, Out of Mind’ report, a 10-month investigation into how our local authorities are managing Ireland’s public waste
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We know how to make our Supermarkets Super - here's our 13 recommendations for the grocery sector. Plastic is choking our waterways, endangering our health and contributing to global warming. Did you know that we are producing more plastic packaging year on year in Ireland? Sick of Plastic has just released its Grocery Report calling out supermarkets for the amount of plastic they place on the market and demanding an ambitious Circular Economy bill to adopt ambitious measures to reduce plastic packaging.
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VOICE is calling for an immediate ban on the manufacture or use of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in Food Contact Materials (FCMs) on the Irish market PFAS are highly persistent chemicals used by manufacturers of many products, including FCMs for their repellency or non stick properties.
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This REPAK funded project looked at the often overlooked area of apartment waste segregation and ran the first national pilot on improving waste segregation.
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This our submission for the Proposed Publication of the Circular Economy Strategy.
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An examination of a peer to peer education programme for recycling behaviour in Ireland
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VOICE's Expert Evidence for the Climate Action Plan 2021
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This is VOICE's submission in preparation for the Draft National Waste Management Plan.
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The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future – and the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy set out the government’s commitment to introduce a Deposit and Return Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles (up to three litres in volume) and aluminium cans.
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We at VOICE believe that in order to get the change we want to conserve our natural resources and protect our environment, we need a top down and bottom up approach.
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Plastic has become a ubiquitous material globally. Research quantifying the amount of plastic in the environment has prompted calls for action to tackle the use of this problem material.
Keep readingIf you feel passionate about protecting our natural resources and would like to become more involved in creating positive change, please support our work by making a donation.
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VOICE is a member-based environmental Charity established in 1997. We currently focus our attention on waste and water issues. VOICE membership represents people from across Ireland and reflects the growing concern that Irish people have for the quality of their environment.
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