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SMILE Launch, Wednesday 27th March

SMILE Launch, Wednesday 27th March

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28/03/2013

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

SMILE Resource Exchange announced that the free exchange service for business will be holding an event in Tallaght Stadium on 25th April as part of South Dublin County Councils Eco-Week 2013.

SMILE stands for Saving Money through Industry Links & Exchanges.   The Resource Exchange is a network of businesses that reuse each other’s surplus products, by-products and reusable items, in order to save money and help the environment by diverting waste from landfill.

A key focus of the initiative is to encourage businesses to identify new business opportunities that may come from using another company’s unwanted resources. Potential exchanges are identified through SMILE networking events, an online exchange facility (www.smileexchange.ie) and the SMILE support team.

This Exchange event will take place on Thursday, April 25th starting at 9am in Tallaght Stadium. SMILE Resource Exchange is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency under the National Waste Prevention Programme and this event is co-sponsored by South Dublin County Council and South Dublin Enterprise Board, and supported by South Dublin Chamber. 

Speakers at the event include:

·       The Mayor of South Dublin County, Councillor Cathal King

·       Mark Finnegan, Sustainability Specialist, IKEA; Mark will talk about IKEA’s approach to reuse. 

·       Keiron Philips, Green Business Initiative Project Manager, Environmental Protection Agency: Keiron will discuss the various supports available to businesses  to help them become more resource efficient

Speaking at the launch, Mayor of South Dublin County Cathal King said “I am very happy to see both South Dublin County Council and South Dublin Enterprise Board supporting businesses in the County in this innovative and sustainable way. I welcome SMILE Resource Exchange to South Dublin and look forward to positive reports of exchanges taking place.  It is good to see the use and reuse of resources. The exchanges made at the Munster events have involved all sectors and product categories; goods that have been exchanged are as diverse as drums; containers; cardboard; furniture; plastics and Styrofoam. Also all resources offered are either free of charge or below market value, and are valuable resources in their own right.”

 

Loman O’Byrne, CEO of the South Dublin County Enterprise Board said “this is just one example of what the Enterprise Board and the Council can do together to support and develop businesses in our County.  The formation of the LEO (Local Enterprise Offices) will formalise the existing synergy between the two organisations and there will be many more events like SMILE Resource Exchange”. 

 

Following the event attendees will also receive a report detailing all those in attendance at the event and the details of all the potential exchanges. This will support the follow up between the businesses after the event.

 

For further information and to register for  the SMILE Exchange Event in Tallaght Stadium on Thursday, April 25th, please contact: 01 436 1864 / www.smileexchange.ie.  Registration for the event is essential as places are limited.

 

SMILE is funded under the National Waste Prevention Programme set-up in 2004.

//ENDS

 

·       Notes to editors: Goods that have been exchanged to date include: plastic reels; CD cases; plastic containers; fabric; bags; pallets; Styrofoam packaging; surplus goods; cardboard boxes; print; ; shredded paper; foam pieces; 15,000 unusable hotel key cards; photocopier; pallets; metal steps; pallet stacker; office tables; ceramic beads; abrasive belts; desktop PC; paper’ furniture; latex gloves;  string; wood pallets; uniforms.

·       Research conducted by Smile Resource Exchange in May 2012 highlights businesses’ attitudes to waste disposal, and changing trends, with upcycling growing in popularity.  The Smile survey, completed by over 100 businesses throughout Munster, indicates that SMEs are actively engaging in actions to reduce their environmental impact, with the majority of companies (92pc) disposing of unwanted waste through recycling; although 48pc also still sending quantities of waste to landfill. Just one respondent said they send 100pc of their waste to landfill, while the majority said they send just between 1pc and 24pc of waste to landfill.

·       When asked about the benefits of implementing environmentally friendly measures, the most quoted perceived benefit was 'cost reduction' closely followed by 'waste minimisation'. Other responses include fostering a 'better image among customers', knowledge that they are 'doing their bit for the environment' and 'increased efficiencies'.