Longford County Council launches Green Hub programme to transform business waste management
New initiative targets 70% of commercial waste currently sent to landfill
Press Release: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Longford County Council has officially launched its Green Hub recycling initiative, designed to revolutionise waste management practices amongst local hospitality businesses. The programme specifically targets cafés, restaurants and food businesses in Longford Town, offering comprehensive support to adopt sustainable waste practices.
The initiative comes as environmental data reveals that over 70% of waste found in commercial bins could be diverted from landfill through proper recycling and food waste segregation (EPA, 2018). This represents both significant environmental impact and unnecessary costs for local enterprises.
Several establishments in Longford Town have already enrolled as founding participants, accessing expert waste advisory services and free resources from MyWaste.ie. The programme provides practical support including bin signage, training materials, staff education and individual business assessments.
Waste advisor Joanna Gammell of Green Task said, "It all starts with you, making the decision to use the correct bin. This Green Hub initiative makes that decision so much easier by providing free advice, training, and bin signage so that staff can feel confident that they are using the bins correctly."
Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh, encouraged widespread participation, "Our local businesses are the heartbeat of Longford Town, and I'm calling on every café, restaurant and food business to embrace this opportunity. The Green Hub programme not only reduces environmental impact but positions our enterprises as leaders in sustainability – something our customers increasingly value."
Chief Executive Paddy Mahon emphasised the programme's strategic importance, "The Green Hub initiative sits at the core of Longford County Council's climate action commitments. By supporting our business community to implement better waste practices, we're creating tangible progress towards our environmental targets whilst strengthening the local economy through cost savings and enhanced reputation."
Participating businesses receive official recognition as Green Hub enterprises, joining a network of environmentally conscious operators. The programme addresses recent legislative changes requiring food waste separation from general refuse – a legal requirement since 2024.
Phase one focuses exclusively on hospitality businesses, with plans to expand to secondary schools and other sectors. Each participant receives personalised waste assessment, follow-up recommendations, training programmes and ongoing expert support.
The initiative promotes circular economy principles by ensuring recyclable materials and food waste are properly processed into new products, reducing raw material extraction, and supporting emission reductions from landfills and incinerators.
Places are limited for this initial phase. Businesses interested in participating should contact longfordgreenhub@gmail.com immediately to secure assessment slots.
The Green Hub programme represents Longford County Council's commitment to practical environmental action, supporting local enterprise whilst delivering measurable climate benefits for the community.
