Cork County Council Awards €52,000 to Community Groups Fighting Single-Use Plastic Waste

Cork County Council has distributed over €52,000 to 23 community groups across the county through its Circular Economy Fund, supporting local initiatives to reduce single-use plastics and promote sustainable practices.

The fund, now in its second year, encourages communities to move away from the traditional 'take-make-use-dispose' model towards more sustainable approaches that prioritise reuse, recycling, and waste minimisation.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley, said:

"It is very encouraging to see so many communities across the county taking meaningful steps to address single-use plastics and embrace circular economy principles. These communities are spearheading change, and each action, whether big or small, has the potential to make a lasting impact."

The 2025 funding round was open to schools, Tidy Towns groups, sports clubs, and festival organisers, with applications focusing on innovative ways to reduce reliance on single-use plastics. Projects funded include reusable cup schemes, permanent water refill stations at sports grounds and schools, and community centres switching to reusable crockery.

Notable recipients include Transition Town Kinsale's reusable cup scheme, the Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival's water filling station equipment, and Cloth Nappy Library Ireland's county-wide nappy kit upgrades.

Chief Executive Moira Murrell expressed appreciation for the community partnerships:

"We are proud to work closely with local groups who continue to demonstrate vision, determination, and leadership in environmental stewardship. Their efforts are vital to making Cork a more sustainable place to live, work, and visit."

The funded projects span all three county divisions, with initiatives ranging from Sherkin Island's water bottle filling station in West Cork to multiple GAA clubs installing external water stations across North Cork. Schools from Millstreet to Crosshaven are also benefiting from internal water refill installations.

The fund aims to promote behavioural change, encouraging people to embrace reuse and avoid single-use plastics in daily life. With growing public demand for plastic reduction initiatives, the programme supports communities ready to take action on environmental issues.

For more information about the Circular Economy Fund, contact the Environmental Awareness Office at eao@corkcoco.ie.