“The willingness
of Ireland’s venues to improve their sustainability credentials is impressive.”
hand dryers that use energy all day, lights and heating being left on unnecessarily, and a lack of options for recycling washroom hand towels.
Eight out of 10 office employees said they would like their workplace to be more environmentally-friendly, while 46% believed the green initiatives taken by their bosses were often an afterthought. 48% also felt concerns about costs were preventing their employers from encouraging more sustainable practices.
While Ireland is seeking to make its washrooms more environmentally friendly, ‘green’ innovations are also being developed across the water in Scotland. For example, researchers at the University of Stirling have created a toilet that can be connected to an anaerobic digester which converts human waste into biogas. This can then be used as a cooking fuel or a fertiliser.
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Scottish start-up Carbogenics this year announced a trial of a new eco-friendly method for dealing with wet wipes, nappies, and sanitary items. The process involves collecting the waste material and roasting it at high temperatures. This turns the products into a charcoal-like substance called ‘biochar’ which is sent back into the wastewater treatment. Biochar absorbs contaminants and stimulates microorganisms, which are said to purify the water.
Sustainability is becoming an important issue to many of us, and most people need little encouragement to adopt more eco-friendly practices. So, the writing is on the wall for public facilities. It’s time for them to step up and provide washrooms everywhere that save energy, that reduce water use, and that are equipped with dispensers that naturally prevent waste and over-consumption.
www.tork.ie/sustainability TOMORROW'S CLEANING IRELAND | 11
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