28/11/2008 -

Making Recycling Rewarding at IT Sligo

To further promote good waste management in IT Sligo, Sligo County Council in partnership with the ITS have installed a state-of-the-art recycling facility for the recovery of plastic bottles generated within the college. 

The new reverse vending machine, which is located in the College canteen, is an automated recycling system that compacts, crushes and shreds used beverage containers.  Based on material recognition the machine is  capable of storing up to 1800 plastic bottles. 

‘Reuse, Reward’, sole suppliers of Reverse Vending machines in Ireland, have a proven track record in encouraging recycling by rewarding on a voucher system.  The system works by vouchers or points being redeemed for each plastic bottle recycled.  When a specified amount of points are reached the recycler can claim a range of prizes e.g. MP3 players, mobile phones, mobile phone credit and even a lap-top!

An information and promotion day was organised at the launch of the facility in the college and Dean Keating from ‘Reuse-Reward’  said “Reverse Vending machines are becoming more and more popular in Ireland.  These machines have been in use across Europe over the past decade and we are happy to announce that this is the third machine we have installed in County Sligo over the past year – one in Sligo General Hospital, Cranmore Community Centre and now in IT Sligo”.

Peter Byrne, Buildings Officer, ITS, said ‘We are always happy to trial new, innovative methods of waste management within the college and are sure that this facility will be well used by the student population of the IT.  There are over 5,000 students at IT Sligo and this machine will encourage them to become actively involved in recycling”.

Sligo County Council supported this initiative through co-funding the facility for a trial period and also provided information to students on how to manage their household waste.  Speaking at the launch, the Environment Awareness Officer said “This facility encourages recycling through rewarding recyclers by awarding points for quantities of plastic recycled.  As the college is a huge generator of plastic waste it is hoped that through developing a recycling habit this facility will instil a sense of environmental responsibility and care among students  so that they will become ambassadors in this area for the future.

The Environmental Society of IT Sligo have been instrumental in the installation of this facility and have to be commended for all the work they have put into improving waste management in the College over the years”. 

- Pictured at the launch of the Reverse Vending Maching in IT Sligo were (Left-Right): Patrick McLoughlin and Grace Herbert, IT Sligo Environmental Society; Fiona Kelly, Sligo County Council; Dean Keating, Reuse Reward and Peter Byrne, ITS Buildings Officer