New group aiming to make Mullingar plastic-free

A group of people attended a Trash Talk event on Thursday last to discuss ways to make Mullingar plastic free.

Taking inspiration from Kinsale Plastic Free, a community-led initiative, Siobhan Murphy of The Fence, where the discussion took place, said a diverse range of business people attended and a plan to create a group called Plastic Free Mullingar is in the works.

Leah Comaskey of VOICE Ireland recycling programme and Bill Collentine of Tidy Towns were among a number of people who spoke on the night, and the information was aimed at businesses as well as individuals, who need to play their part at home to make the environment a better place for all.

“In Kinsale they’ve got the whole community involved, from sports clubs to schools, as well as businesses – but what became clear from the discussion was that Mullingar is so big, we’re going to have to start small,” Siobhan told the Westmeath Examiner.

“We’ve taken inspiration from Kinsale and a native of Mullingar, Madeline Murray, who’s part of a whole revolution there.

“We talked about businesses lowering the quantity of plastics they use, but also as individuals at home, about how we can all be informed about our choices,” she explains.

The team at The Fence told their story of making the change from plastic to paper straws.

“For the business, it was a huge step, contacting various suppliers, and it comes at a cost too.

“We are now plastic straw free, but the boxes of paper straws come wrapped in a plastic bag, which somewhat defeats the point.

Consortium

“We’d really love to establish a consortium of businesses and other establishments that could lobby the suppliers into making changes too, like getting rid of the plastic bag.”

Siobhan explains that plastic has become so much part of our daily lives that it may be impossible to ever be rid of it entirely, and a lifelong commitment is needed.

“When we changed from plastic straws there was abuse thrown at us – things like ‘F*** the environment, I just want a plastic straw’,” explains Siobhan.

“So there was huge backlash, but what’s happening now is that people are actually bringing in plastic straws from other establishments – who knew plastic straws were so important to people?!

“Companies also need to be offering incentives to businesses, but there is a cost involved in lowering your [ecological] footprint.

“And likewise, as businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals, we all need to be working together on this to make any kind of change.”

While a sea change may be needed in both our culture and attitude as regards to the environment, Siobhan says a good discussion ensued at last week’s meeting and a Facebook page will now be set up, called Plastic Free Mullingar.

“People can join it to learn what they need to do to make this part of the world – Mullingar, their community, this island, and the world – a better place to live in, for our kids and the next generation.

“We’ve realised it’s a forever project, it’s not something we’re going to solve overnight.

“But small steps mean a lot and anyone who wants to get involved can join the group on Facebook, ‘Plastic Free Mullingar’.”