Networking project proposes to give rubbish a new lease of life

SMILE – your rubbish is about to get a new lease of life.

A new networking project has been launched to help businesses cut costs by using each other’s waste and by-products.

Waste Matchers, Cork’s online waste exchange website, which was developed at the Macroom E (Environmental) Industrial Park announced details of the Saving Money through Industry Links and Exchanges (SMILE) network yesterday.

The scheme is based on successful schemes which have been run in the North and Britain. The first SMILE event in the Republic will be held in the Oriel House Hotel, Ballincollig, on March 25 from 9am to 2pm. Funded by South Cork Enterprise Board and Cork County Council, it is free of charge for all businesses.

The SMILE network aims to help businesses save money by developing a network of businesses that re-use each other’s surplus products, by-products and re-usable items. The idea is that one business’s waste or unused resource could become another business’s raw material. However, the concept can also be applied to logistics, shared premises, services or shared skills.

It is hoped the network will help members save on operating or disposal costs, and on procurement costs.

Examples of items and products which may be on offer are plastics, timber, cardboard, paper, pallets, warehouse or office space.

Sean O’Sullivan, chief executive South Cork Enterprise Board (SCEB), said, as environmental issues become more part of daily business, the SCEB is looking to support such initiatives.

“We would encourage any business that currently has a by-product or reusable items that may presently be going to landfill to investigate whether SMILE could be an avenue for them to discover other organisations that may be able to utilise what you have,” he said. “If we can find opportunities that may reduce cost in business at the same time as reducing the amount of waste going to landfill, then this has to be good for us all.”

* Booking form: Macroom-e at 026 20520, www.wastematchers.com, or e-mail [e-mail]