Day in the Life - Mags Whelan, Kilkenny's Environmental Awareness Officer

Mags Whelan is a dedicated advocate for environmental stewardship and community engagement, with a diverse background that has shaped her commitment to creating positive change.

With a honours Degree in Humanities, specializing in Geography, Environmental Science, and History from University College Dublin (UCD), Mag's journey into environmental advocacy began to take shape.

After considering a career as a Secondary school teacher, Mags found her true calling in the realm of public service. From 2011 to 2016, she served as a Parliamentary Assistant for a Minister of State in Carlow and Kilkenny. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in navigating complex governmental and politically sensitive issues, honing her skills in research, analysis, and policy development.

In November 2018, Mags transitioned to the role of Coordinator for Kilkenny Public Participation Network (PPN), where her previous experience served as a solid foundation. In this role, she worked to empower community organizations across various pillars, including social inclusion, environment, and community and voluntary sectors.

Since September 2023, Mags has taken on the role of Environmental Awareness Officer for Kilkenny County Council, where her passion for environmental sustainability shines through. In this dynamic role, her responsibilities span a wide range of initiatives, from delivering educational workshops to spearheading awareness campaigns and addressing local environmental issues such as waste management.

Here is a glimpse into her world…

Mags, could you share with us your journey to becoming an Environmental Awareness Officer?

Well, it's been quite a journey. I initially began my career in local government, working closely with Minister of State Ann Phelan. From there, I developed a passion for policy and community development, which eventually led me to this role as an Environmental Awareness Officer.

How did your experience as a Parliamentary Assistant influence your perspectives and approach to environmental issues?

My time in government exposed me to the legislative process and the importance of collaboration between departments and agencies. I've always believed in the need for effective communication and teamwork to address environmental challenges at all levels.

The role gave me a first-hand understanding of the challenges faced in addressing environmental issues. It allowed me to witness the importance of robust policy frameworks and the need for effective collaboration between government departments, organizations, and stakeholders.

One thing that is very apparent is the number of agencies that work in isolation of one another. For an effective response to any issue, we need to foster collaboration.

This experience has influenced my perspectives by emphasizing the significance of evidence-based decision-making, the integration of sustainability across different policy areas, and the importance of engaging with diverse perspectives to achieve long-lasting environmental change.

As a former coordinator for a Public Participation Network (PPN), what challenges did you face in engaging communities?

Lack of Community Development Programme which meant that some of the more vulnerable and marginalised areas were harder to reach.

Community engagement and policy development go hand in hand. Building trust with marginalized communities and fostering collaboration were key challenges, but we've seen significant progress in increasing PPN membership and engagement over the years.

In your current role, what do you see as the most pressing environmental concerns facing Kilkenny County Council?

Littering remains a significant issue, despite our high rankings in cleanliness surveys. We're also focused on combating dumping, encouraging sustainable practices, and implementing initiatives like the new return deposit scheme to promote recycling.

As an environmental awareness officer in Kilkenny local authority, some of the most pressing concerns facing Kilkenny County Council include waste management, water quality and conservation, sustainable transportation, the preservation of natural habitats not to mention littering, dumping, dog fouling, septic tanks, air pollution.

Additionally, there is an imminent need to address climate change impacts and develop strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the county. This is being undertaken by the Climate Action Team with the development of the Climate Action Plan which details higher objectives and actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

All these concerns require a collaborative and holistic approach, involving engagement with local communities, businesses, and government agencies to find innovative and sustainable solutions. The biggest challenge for all of us is inertia and being able to change the current mind set amongst our communities.

Can you explain how the return deposit scheme works?

This is a new bottle and can recycling system and is known as the Deposit Return Scheme. The scheme began on February 1, 2024.

The scheme imposes a deposit fee on certain drink containers, which can be refunded when returned through designated vending machines or participating stores. It's a national recycling initiative aimed at reducing waste and promoting conservation.

The cost of the deposit is automatically added to the cost of the drink. You can reclaim the deposit by returning your containers once they are empty and undamaged. This includes bottles, tins and cans made from plastic, steel, and aluminium between 150ml and three litres.

No glass, dairy products, or containers over 3 litres will be accepted. Containers between 150 ml and 500ml will have a 15c deposit. Containers between 500ml and 3 litres will have a 25c deposit.

You can get a refund via a Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) or instore manually if they do not have an RVM.

There is an interactive map online on return.ie to establish stores that are participating. Some stores less than 250 square metres can apply for exemption.

What upcoming projects are you enthusiastic about in terms of environmental sustainability and that will have a significant impact on promoting environmental sustainability in Kilkenny?

There are several upcoming projects that I'm particularly excited about. Firstly, our involvement in the Green Schools program presents an excellent opportunity to engage with schools and empower the next generation of environmental stewards.

Additionally, our participation in the National Spring Clean initiative and the "Team Up Cleanup for Kilkenny" campaign are promising initiatives aimed at mobilizing communities to address littering and promote environmental stewardship.

What advice would you give individuals and communities to enhance their environmental awareness?

I encourage communities to get involved with local tidy towns groups and take self-responsibility for environmental stewardship. Simple actions like reducing energy consumption, minimizing food waste, and educating oneself can make a significant impact in combating environmental challenges.

Educate yourself on environmental and climate action issues- pollution, climate change, SDG’s, waste management, biodiversity loss. Be up to date on current research and issues.

Act locally by getting familiar with issues relevant to your area. Get involved in your local Tidy Towns group or environmental groups in your area.

As I said, self-responsibility comes into play. Be more active in reducing your energy consumption, adopt sustainable practices such as conserving water, stop waste food, overbuying, portion control, and compost. Buy environmentally friendly produce.

Support local initiatives and businesses. Collaborate with other agencies and volunteers around clean ups, tree planting etc.

Advocate for change and influence at policy level. Encourage involvement in public consultations.

Lastly, what's one piece of advice you'd give for making our own corner of the world a bit greener?

I have more than one piece of advice! In fact, there’s a long list of simple changes that we can all do in our homes. We all play an important role in this entire process but it does not mean you have to make excessive and/or costly changes to make a difference.

Small, practical actions done correctly like being more energy conscious at home for example turning off the lights as you leave a room, not filling the kettle to capacity every time you boil it, putting in a water harvester for use in the garden, not using the washing machine every day or turning on the heating for hours at a time.

You could also actively engage and use sustainable transportation options. For instance, if you live and work in the city, why not walk instead of drive to work or indeed, use the cycling infrastructure. If you commute, why not look at the use of public transport or carpooling.

Advocate for more effective waste management strategies, including reducing single-use plastics, increasing recycling rates, and promoting composting. That means engaging with your local agencies like the Local Authority.

Educate and engage the community through awareness campaigns and initiatives that highlight the benefits of living sustainably. Work with your local Tidy Towns or environmental group in this regard or the local town development team.

Preserve and enhance natural habitats and green spaces within your own community, which can improve biodiversity, provide recreational areas, and contribute to carbon sequestration.

Collaborate with local businesses to promote eco-friendly practices, such as reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste generation, and improving sustainable supply chains.

Stop wasting food. Portion control is not only important from a health perspective but an environmental one too. Buy loose items instead of bulk when you shop. For instance, if you know you will not use a bag of onions in one week, buy three loose.

 If you want to find out more about the Return Deposit Scheme, please visit www.re-turn.ie