- Home
- > Green Issues
Green Issues
GREEN DAY REVIEW 2008
Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of FE held its first annual Green Day on Monday April 28th 2008. This day is designed to celebrate and raise awareness of environmental issues within the college.
The day kicked off with a visit and address by Trevor Sargent TD Minister for Food and Culture. Trevor launched the college’s green campaign and spoke about a number of key environmental issues as well as taking some interesting and intelligent questions from keen students.
This was followed by a screening of Microcosmos (Claude Nuridsany, Marie Pérennou 1996) a cinematic documentary that provides a fascinating insight into the world of some of nature’s smallest creatures with whom we all share the planet. The screening was introduced by a member of the college green team.
 |
 |
|---|
Environmental Plan for Coláiste Dhúlaigh CFE
Stage 1: Environmental Review
This stage will involve a comprehensive review of the college’s environmental impacts and will aim to identify targets for action and improvement. It will also involve consultation with college staff to identify particular needs and requests of an environmental nature.
Stage 2: Environmental Policy
This stage will involve the creation of an environmental policy for the college. It will relate to staff, students and visitors of the college. The policy will refer to waste management, recycling facilities, energy usage etc
Stage 3: Implementation of Environmental Procedures
This stage will involve provision of proper waste and recycling facilities throughout the college. Provision should be made for recycling of both dry domestic recyclables and non-domestic recyclables such as computers, printer cartridges and light bulbs.
Stage 4: Formation of Environmental Committee
This stage will aim to bring the college students into the environmental effort by allowing them to form an environmental committee that will have an on-going input into the area. The formation of a student environmental committee is in line with the application procedure for Green Flag status.
Stage 5: Application for Green Flag Status
This stage will involve application for Green Flag status and undertaking of necessary actions to achieve same. This will most likely involve a year to two year time period.
Stage 6: Awarding of Green Flag Status
We are committed as a college to achieving Green Flag status. This will involve a lot of work and effort but we believe we can achieve this important goal.
Stage 7: On-going Review and implementation of Environmental Procedures
This stage aims to ensure that having achieved Green Flag status we are able to maintain it. Green Flag status is reviewed on an on-going basis and it is important that we continue to monitor, evaluate and improve our environmental status.
Environmental Policy for Coláiste Dhúlaigh CFE
This policy intends to ensure that the college recognises and takes responsibility for its impact on the environment. It intends to address waste management, energy usage, recycling and so forth. All staff and students are requested to co-operate and support this policy by:
- Reducing volumes of waste created on campus where possible.
- Re-using materials and products where possible.
- Making use of available facilities to recycle where possible.
- Raising general awareness of environmental issues with fellow staff and students.
Waste Management Overview
Domestic Rubbish
Dublin City Council collect our domestic daily rubbish which is not recyclable. Silver bins and bin labels may be purchased from DCC and these are collected once a week.
Recyclable Waste
Oxigen collect the majority of our recyclable waste. Green bins are provided for this service. These take paper, cardboard, catalogues, Tetra Paks, cans, paperback books, newspapers etc.
Dublin City Council also provide cardboard labels and commercial recycling bags.
The labels can be used if you have large volumes of cardboard. Cardboard needs to be collapsed and bundled and a label placed on it for collection.
Bags can take the same as green bins PLUS plastics
Skips
Skips should NOT be used for general waste disposal or for disposal of recyclable material. This includes computers, electronic goods, light bulbs and so forth. All of these are recyclable and should not be disposed of in a skip.
Waste Management Infrastructure
Clear Plastic Bags
Offices and ComputerClear reusable plastic bags should be used for recyclable waste. These make it easy to spot and remove non-recyclable waste.
Offices and Computer Rooms
Paper recycling bins should be placed in rooms and offices with high paper usage. Each bin should have a clear plastic bag that the cleaners will empty and bring to the front door of the college. From here the porters will empty the contents of the bag into the green bin and return the bag to the cleaners. The bags are reusable.
Canteen
Reusable and washable cups, plates and cutlery should be used. The use of paper or polystyrene cups, plastic knives and forks should be avoided.
A clear plastic recycling bag should be available in canteen areas. This can be used for paper, light cardboard, cans etc. Cans and Tetra Paks should be rinsed and all recyclables need to be dry. The bag should be clearly labelled and ideally located in an area where the possibility of contamination (mixing of food etc with paper) is kept to a minimum.
Recycling Area
A recycling area should be identified in each campus for temporary storage of recyclable electronic equipment, computers etc.
Computers
Computers should be re-used and re-distributed throughout the college whenever possible. When this is no longer possible computers need to have their hard-drives wiped. This should take place BEFORE computers are removed from their existing room. At this point a request can be made for them to be recycled outside the college.
Computers are then donated to charity organisations and should not be disposed of in skips.
Ink Cartridges
Ink cartridges are also donated to charity. Recycling boxes for cartridges should be placed in computer rooms, at the front door, in libraries etc.
Mobile Phones
Mobile phones are donated to charity. Recycling boxes for mobile phones should be placed at the front door, in libraries etc.
Light Bulbs
When gone, light bulbs should be stored and held for collection by our supplier who will recycle the light bulbs appropriately. Light bulbs should not be disposed of in skips.
Garden Waste
Grass should be cut regularly and kept low so that there is no need to rake and dispose of grass cuttings.
Step by Step
Recycling initiatives should be introduced on a step by step basis. It’s important to give staff and students a chance to get used to them. If you try to introduce everything at one stage it could create problems with contamination, people turning against the idea and so forth
Energy Usage
All staff should minimise unnecessary energy usage. Lights, computers and electrical equipment should be switched off in rooms where they are not in use for significant periods. Care should be taken to ensure that lights are not switched off in corridors that might pose a safety threat for colleagues leaving a room and entering a dark corridor.