Recycling plan for inner city

SUNFLOWER Recycling, a unique community based initiative to promote job creation in Dublin's north inner city, aimed at making this problem area a better place to live, was officially inaugurated yesterday.

What makes it unique, according to its manager, Ms Bernie Walsh, is that it is not just collecting waste like other "green" organisations it is also physically intervening to improve the environment and impart new skills to local people.

Sunflower Recycling was set up because the "green option" and its related commercial opportunities had been ignored as a way of addressing the intractable problems of the north inner city, with its deteriorating physical surroundings.

"Most people usually associate recycling with the middle class suburbs," Ms Walsh said. "We had many detractors in the beginning who said that such a project would never get off the ground in, the inner city, but we have been overwhelmed by the support we've received."

One of Sunflower's recent projects was the completion of a colourful mural on a concrete wall in Sean MacDermott Street, which, had been a "dirty eyesore" for years. Though local children involved to give them a sense of ownership, it has since been damaged by fire.

The recycling operation is divided between a business waste collection for 40 commercial premises in, the Temple Bar area and a pilot domestic waste collection from 100 houses in the north inner city. So far, over 20 people are involved in the project, mainly on a FAS scheme.

The project has already won an Environmental Awareness Award from the Department of the Environment as well as backing from the Dublin Inner City Partnership and the ESB. Sunflower Recycling is based at 44 Lower Gardiner Street, tel (01) 8745824.