There’s good news for thousands of sports clubs with an eye on their environmental footprint.

Ireland’s official guide to managing your waste, MyWaste, is launching a free sustainability toolkit to help sports clubs improve their waste management practices and embrace the principles of a circular economy.

The MyWaste Sports Club Toolkit, supported by the Federation of Irish Sport, marks a significant step towards fostering environmental sustainability within the Irish sports community.

This launch comes as new research conducted by MyWaste in conjunction with the Federation of Irish Sport found that over 90% of clubs surveyed believe they could be doing more to improve their waste management efforts.

Other key findings from the survey include:

  • Environmental Consciousness: 84.79% of clubs believe their members are environmentally conscious and would like to recycle more waste generated at the club.
  • High Engagement with Waste Collection: 74% of sports clubs currently avail of a waste collection service.
  • Prevalence of Plastic Waste: When asked what are the biggest items that typically end up in your club’s general waste bins, 53% said plastic bottles, while 24% said disposable coffee cups.
  • Interest in Guidance: 79% of clubs are interested in free guidance on waste management and recycling.

“I am delighted to launch the MyWaste Sports Club Toolkit today,” said Ossian Smyth, Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement, eGovernment and Circular Economy.

“By providing clubs with the necessary tools and guidance, we are not only fostering a culture of environmental responsibility but also leading the way in the circular economy.”

“I encourage all sports organisations to take advantage of this excellent resource and make a positive impact on our environment and our wider communities.”

“This initiative is a collaboration between the Government of Ireland, MyWaste and the Federation of Irish Sport. It demonstrates our commitment to working together to raise public awareness of the importance of recycling sustainably.”

The toolkit highlights practical steps to reduce and eliminate single-use plastics. The toolkit includes:

  • Guidance on Waste Segregation: Clear instructions on proper waste segregation to ensure recycling and waste management are as effective as possible.
  • Elimination of Single-Use Plastics: Practical steps to reduce and eliminate single-use plastics and disposable coffee cups.
  • Gear Swapping Initiatives: Strategies to promote the reuse of sports gear, reducing the need for new purchases and minimising waste.
  • Mapping Your Club’s Journey: Tools and templates to help clubs track their progress and set achievable sustainability goals.
  • Engaging Communications Assets: Downloadable materials, including social media graphics and educational content, to raise awareness among club members and the wider community.

The first phase of MyWaste Sports Club Toolkit will focus on raising awareness about the toolkit and encouraging its adoption by sports clubs nationwide.

Later this year, MyWaste will also facilitate an online Masterclass for all sports club representatives, allowing them to learn more about the toolkit resources available and gain insights into best practices.

The Federation of Irish Sport is very proud to support this MyWaste initiative,” added Clare Louise O’Donoghue, Head of Commercial and Marketing.

“Through collaboration and information sharing, we hope to positively impact our sports clubs and organisations’ journey towards reducing their carbon footprint.”

 

 

 

Sport for Business, in partnership with SSE Airtricity, has created a Sustainability Leadership Group. The group will meet to discuss areas of mutual interest and potential collaboration over the next three years.

 

Find out more and get involved.

 

 

Register your interest to attend a Sport for Business event here.

 

SSE Airtricity are proud partners of the Sport for Business Community.

 

The Sport for Business Membership comprises nearly 300 organisations including all the leading sports and sponsors, commercial and state agencies. 

Find out more about joining us today.

 

Check out our upcoming events to discover ways of connecting in person with our membership.