The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) organised the conference to demonstrate what the 14 local authorities involved in the Local Authority Prevention Demonstration (LAPD) programme were doing.

The scheme was designed to help local authorities improve the way they promote waste prevention and resource efficiency and also demonstrate the financial savings that are possible for local authorities themselves.

EPA director Dr Mary Kelly explained: “Irish households and businesses have shown that they can change behaviour in terms of recycling.

“Now we must focus on prevention and decouple economic growth from waste generation.

“Local leadership and demonstration projects will be essential to making this happen.”

Dr Padraic Larkin, EPA’s deputy director general, added: “Waste prevention is about managing change within an organisation, be it private or public sector.

“Without the support and drive of top management, it cannot happen.”

James Cooper

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