Revamp Do It Again

By Colm O'Connor

IRD Duhallow Furniture Revamp on Friday October 28th in The Marker Hotel in Dublin and in collaboration with Cork County Council received the winning Trophy for Community Recycling initiative of the year. IRD Duhallow Furniture Revamp was no stranger to this award as we were runners up in 2018 and of course the winner in 2021 The Pakman Awards have huge importance in acknowledging those who are committed to innovation in waste management and supporting a circular economy. Each entrant shows their dedication and their efforts to help meet Ireland’s recycling targets set out by EU legislation. Winning a Pakman Award is regarded as the most prestigious environmental accolade in Ireland.

Speaking about the finalists, Repak CEO Séamus Clancy said: “We are delighted to be celebrating many environmental champions at this year’s awards, who are leading by example in implementing excellent recycling and waste management practices over the last twelve months. This year saw some of the highest entries from companies, businesses, community groups and individuals to the Pakman Awards, a reflection of the commitment of many industries in Ireland to help reach our future EU recycling targets and protect our planet for future generations.The standard of this year’s entries was not only exceptional but served as inspiration for others in how to deliver exemplary environmental practices.”

The collaboration between, Cork County Council, Cork City Council and three Cork social enterprises, IRD Duhallow in Newmarket, Northside Community Enterprise (NCE) in Farranferris, Cork City and Cycle Sense based in Skibbereen, the Relove Paint project sees unwanted paint collected from both local authorities and civic amenity sites by the social enterprises whothen filter, remix and recolour the paint to produce a high quality but low cost paint which is distributed back into the community. In Cork County and City, up to 190 tonnes of paint are collected at civic amenity sites annually and are generally exported for treatment – at a cost to both councils and potentially to the environment.

Approximately 60% of this waste paint is water based, much of which could be reused and upcycled through Relove Paint. As well as helping to protect our environment Relove Paint also delivers economically. These three fantastic social enterprises epitomize the circular economy at its very best. IRD Duhallow, Cycle Sense, and NCE are delivering for their local economy in terms of job creation and reducing the costs for individuals, community groups and businesses who are using the paint.

The Local Authority and EPA funding has allowed the set-up of a paint reuse and upcycling system in each social enterprise, the training of staff in paint mixing as well as training of staff at civic amenity sites. Each of the enterprises are now experienced in filtering, remixing, recolouring, and repackaging the paint, and are now producing a high-quality paint to sell within their local communities. The water-based paint is available in a variety of colours and can be purchased through IRD Duhallow, NCE and Cycle Sense. For more information go to www.relovepaint.ie.

Since October 2021, the project has diverted over 5 tonnes of paint from incineration to reuse. 2200 litres of high quality, low cost Relove Paint has been sold back onto the community delivering the circular economy locally in each of the three communities. The feedback from customers has been overwhelmingly positive with the consistent agreement that the paint offers great coverage, so a lesser amount of paint is needed. The price point in today’s economic climate at €15 per 5 litre bucket is very competitive.

Michelle Green Cork County Council, Jessica Baron IRD Duhallow Furniture Revamp and Colm O’Connor IRD Duhallow

L-R: John and Noreen Hegarty of NCE, Ossian Smyth Minister for The Circular Economy, Jessica Baron IRD Duhallow Furniture Revamp, Mary Walsh Cork City Council, Michelle Green Cork County Council and Colm O Connor IRD Duhallow.