A million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute and the number will jump another 20% by 2021 creating an environmental crisis some campaigners predict will be as serious as climate change. The demand, equivalent to about 20,000 bottles being bought every second, is driven by an apparently insatiable desire for bottled water...

A University of Limerick (UL) researcher has been given €1.5m for pioneering work on generating clean energy through photosynthesis – the only Irish scientist granted by the European Research Council (ERC) in the physical science field this year. Electrochemist and lecturer Dr Micheál Scanlon is one of only three Irish-based researchers overall to be awarded...

BHSL was born out of necessity.  Jack O’Connor had a 25,000-bird poultry shed on the family farm and was told by Limerick Country Council in 1998 that pollution from spreading the chicken manure on land meant the practice was to be banned.   With business potentially doomed, Jack put his engineering experience to work and developed...

Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste arises from construction, renovation and demolition projects and includes all waste categories mentioned in chapter 17 of the European Waste catalogue (EWC) and List of Waste (LoW) codes. C&D material is normally perceived as a waste and a liability.  Traditionally C&D waste was disposed off in the nearest hole in the...

Preventing and reducing food waste has become a global priority – one-third of food produced in the world – approximately 1.3 billion tons – is wasted every year. This misuse of valuable resources has a significant impact on the environment, economy, health, and society as a whole. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 calls...

Resource Efficiency offers a clear win-win scenario by achieving real savings through reducing wastage.  ECOS provide technical support to the Resource Exchange, which facilitates recovery/reuse of wastes/resources – #circulareconomy The Europe 2020 strategy highlights the fact that resource efficiency is crucial to securing growth and jobs for Europe. Ireland’s National Waste Prevention Programme has successfully...

The EPA has launched beaches.ie – a new mobile enabled website providing information about bathing water at Ireland’s beautiful beaches and lakes. The website will allow people to access the information they need before a day out at the seaside. beaches.ie is set up for mobile devices so allowing visitors quick and easy access to...

Environmental management has a raft of legislation associated with it covering air emissions water, waste water, integrated pollution control now known as industrial emissions. Environmental management has significant implications for business in terms of legal compliance, cost and technical measures to be implemented. How you address environmental management can have a significant bearing on your business and profitability. There are...

If your business produces a waste you have an obligation to dispose of it in a legal manner. There are two key things all businesses need to be aware of.  Waste is your responsibility until it reaches its final destination.  When it leaves your site it must be transported by a suitably licensed waste collection company. Not...

ECOS have been providing technical support services to SMILE Resource Exchange for the Southern Waste Management Region since 2015.  We  work closely with SMILE and our counterparts in the East & Midlands and Connaught & Ulster waste management regions.   SMILE Resource Exchange is a free service for businesses which: SMILE encourages businesses to exchange resources...