Environment Awareness and Local Supports

Westmeath County Council’s’ Corporate Plan targets the promotion and protection of a clean safe environment in a sustainable manner as a principal strategic objective for the County. A fundamental driver of environmental protection, enhancement, and conservation is the promotion of public awareness through well-designed, targeted, creative and interactive environmental engagement with stakeholders and the communities of Westmeath.

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Environment Awareness

Prime function includes the promotion of Westmeath County Council’s anti-litter / dumping policies, stakeholder engagement, community support in pollution prevention, Council policy development, adoption/mitigation programmes, innovation projects and special work packages.

Westmeath School Film Award winning entry for 2025

In 2025 the winning entry was submitted by Athlone Community College (with a special acknowledgement to J Duffy from ACC).

Local Supports and Resources

Green Kilometre Scheme

The Green Kilometre Scheme is supported by Westmeath Council and it invites individuals/groups to choose a kilometre, or even a longer stretch of rural road/loop, in their community area. The individual/group then undertakes to maintain the tidiness and appearance of that chosen road over the course of a year. Supports and equipment is available from the Environment Department to assist in this scheme.

Download the application form Green Kilometre. for more details: or email greenKM@westmeathcoco.ie or phone 044 93 32166

2 min Pickers

• For the benefit of local community groups the Environment Department supplies, in partnership with an Taisce, places Litter Picker Boards where local walkers can borrow a picker as they walk along their local lake side shore.

Green Schools Programme

• Westmeath Council supports An Taisce’s Green Schools programme throughout the County. This is an environmental education programme, encouraging schools to take environmental issues into the curriculum and apply them to the day-to-day running of the school.
• Though the Council is not part of the Green School adjudication process the Environment Department continues to offer support to all schools undertaking Environment projects.
• For further information see http://www.greenschoolsireland.org or email greenschools@eeu.antaisce.org

Blue Flag Awareness

The Blue Flag Campaign is an international eco-label for beaches and marinas. The award covers four broad criteria:

• Water quality
• Environmental education and information
• Environmental management
• Safety and services

Tree Support

• The Environment Section participates in National Tree Week and other such programmes that support and encourages the development of forests, tree plantation, hedges, wildflower and domestic flora within the natural environment infrastructure that contributes to a healthy and sustainable landscape.

Tidy Towns and Community Action

• The Environment Department has increased its support to Tidy Town Committees and Community Groups, including sports and other clubs, to allow them to engage and participate in local clean-up and related environment events throughout the year.

National Spring Week

• The Environment Department encourages all community and other groups, to registerers with National Spring Clean. Nevertheless, if registered or not, the Environment Department continues to support all groups, schools and clubs with their participation in their local spring clean event.

Schools Environment Film Competition

• From their own script and talents, Westmeath students participated in a Council Film project. Using an environmental theme, this film project was run on a competition format.

Food Waste Week

• The promotion and education of home composting the results in financial, environmental, home gardening and even has mental health benefits.

Dog poo bags and Bag Dispensers

• Through a partnership approach the Environment Department works with Tidy Town Committees and others, including dog friendly businesses, with the supply of Dog Poo Bag Dispensers and the supply of Dog Poo Bags.
  The Groups or individuals manages the upkeep and maintains the bag supply within the dispenser.

Other Supports and Recourses

The Environment Department engages with communities in proactive actions (often a single event that is subjective to an area) to resist, reduce, reuse, and recycle waste that extends beyond minimum requirements.

• My Club Waste
• Entente Florale Europe
• Tidy Town competition support
• Pride of Place
• Club DRS
• Bin Surround
• Green Dog Walkers
• Action days [special projects]
• Local area clean ups
• Amnesty days
• Green your event
• Support at Environment related Talks and Events

Westmeath County Waste Management Policy

The Environment Department is a key stakeholder in the development, oversight, enforcement and delivery of the Waste Management Policy for the County and is the steward to the improvement of recycle and waste resources, strategy and awareness.

• Westmeath County Council operates under the National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy 2024–2030, focusing on waste prevention, 0% waste growth per person, and the promotion of waste segregation.
• Key policies include mandatory three-bin systems, adherence to Waste Presentation Bye-Laws (2019), and required permits for waste collectors and facility operators.
• Recycling and Disposal: The policy aims to improve recycling rates and reduce landfill reliance, supported by local recycling centres and bring banks.
• Commercial & Construction Waste: Businesses are required to manage waste efficiently, and construction projects must submit a resource and waste management plan, focusing on reducing, reusing, and recycling materials.

Key aspects of Waste Management

• Waste Presentation Byelaws 2019: These regulations dictate how household and commercial waste must be segregated, stored, and presented for collection to encourage recycling and reduce landfill use.
• National Waste Management Plan (2024–2030): Shifts focus from just disposal to a circular economy, emphasising reduction of virgin resources and managing waste as a valuable resource.
• Mandatory Segregation: Waste must be separated into organic (brown bin), dry mixed recyclables (green bin), and general waste (black bin).
• Authorised Collectors: Only waste contractors with a valid permit from the National Waste Collection Permit Office (NWCPO) are allowed to collect waste.
• Recycling and Disposal: The policy aims to improve recycling rates and reduce landfill reliance, supported by local recycling centres and bring banks including textile banks.
• Commercial & Construction Waste: Businesses are required to manage waste efficiently, and construction projects must submit a resource and waste management plan, focusing on reducing, reusing, and recycling materials.
• Services and Infrastructure: Recycling Centres: The council operates recycling facilities for household waste, including electrical items (WEEE), bulky goods, and some hazardous materials.
• Waste Permits: The council issues permits for waste facilities, including private waste operators.