Cork Tackles Food Waste

In a collective effort to address and mitigate the impact of food waste within the tourism sector, Visit Cork, in collaboration with Cork County Council and Cork City Council, has launched the “Waste Not, Want Not” conference, which responds to the statistic that more than one-quarter of global food production is wasted, contributing significantly to climate change, with food loss and waste responsible for 8-10% of greenhouse gas emissions.

This initiative, supported by the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices’ “Green Hubs” fund, aims to bring together stakeholders from the tourism and hospitality industry to share insights, expertise and practical solutions for managing and reducing waste. Taking place on Wednesday January 31st at the newly established Education, Conservation and Research Centre in Fota Wildlife Park, the half-day event will feature a review of Visit Cork's plans and aspirations for the sector in 2024. 

Expert speakers will present insights and advice on available resources to assist businesses in effectively monitoring and managing waste. Kenneth Lyons, co-host of “The Green Room” radio show on sustainability, with a background in the hotel industry, will be the conference MC.

The "Waste Not, Want Not" conference is free to attend, but businesses must register in advance online due to limited spaces. There is an option to donate to the Fota Wildlife Park conservation and education activities when booking. To register and access more information, please visit the Cork Convention bureau website. Businesses are encouraged to visit the Mywaste.ie  website for resources on how to make changes, and to learn more about their obligations under national waste management legislation.