The new App makes it easy for people to report a pollution incident the moment they see it. Using the App you can now take a photograph of the pollution incident, input GPS location coordinates, add a summary description of what you want to convey and your contact details and this will automatically be sent to the relevant local authority for follow up.

This App compliments the 24-hour nationwide environmental complaints phoneline – 1850 365 121 – which is already in place. So, you can now report issues such as backyard burning, flytipping, water pollution, odours and littering by using the new iPhone App or by phoning the complaints line.

David Flynn, EPA Programme Manager, said – “We want to make it easy for people who ‘See Something’ to ‘Say Something’. This App is another way for people to report environmental pollution incidents and we hope they will download and use the App’s simple reporting methods to protect their local areas. The App is currently available for iPhone customers and the EPA hopes to extend this to Android phones.

“The existing environmental complaints phoneline is also available 24hrs a day, 7 days a week and all calls are answered by dedicated staff who pass the reported information to the relevant body for follow up such as local authorities, the Gardaí or the EPA.”

Joe Crockett of the County and City Managers’ Association (CCMA), added – “The CCMA greatly welcomes the development of the mobile App. The inclusion of GPS co-ordinates and photo imagery – and accurate information on location – will greatly assist the Environment Enforcement Officers to rapidly respond to reported environmental complaints.

“The Local Authorities urge the public to make use of the new App and to continue using the National Environmental Complaints Line as their help is critical in assisting the Local Authorities to tackle the minority of society who recklessly endanger the environment by inappropriate and illegal activities”

You can download the App now from the iTunes App Store – search iTunes for: ‘See it Say it’ – or visit http://goo.gl/gOJMa – or scan the QR code here.

Then, if you spot environmental pollution or dumping, simply -

• open the App,
• take a photograph,
• add a few simple details including a contact number – and
• submit the complaint.

The app will send the complaint details to the relevant local authority and will make it easy for those investigating to locate the problem.

To find out more about making an environmental complaint – Click Here

Have you seen Unilevers who are a proud member of Repaks new deoderant packaging? The new can uses half the amount of propellant as the 150ml can and 25 per cent less aluminum. Unilever also reckons it will be able to squeeze an additional 53 cans onto a delivery pallet, which would reduce the number of trucks required to ship the product by more than a third. To find out more about this story click here.

In 2012, 32,000 people used FreeTrade Ireland to reuse 16,000 items like toys, furniture, electronic goods and garden equipment.

“In 2012, seven out of ten ads posted were successfully answered, which is an average of 44 items reused each day. This reuse has delivered over €1.7 million in savings to users with over 290,000kg of materials avoiding landfill as a result,” says Warren Phelan, Website Manager who has just launched the new Free Trade Ireland awareness video.

“We have a new video on our website showing people how to use the service and the benefits of it, which will hopefully encourage even more people to use FreeTradeIreland.ie in 2013.”

FreeTradeIreland.ie is a free, public online service that helps people to reuse unwanted items. If you splashed out on a new TV this Christmas and want to give your old one away for free, the website is the most convenient way to do this.

FreeTrade Ireland is a community initiative, promoted by local authorities around the country. The FreeTrade Ireland team will host a series of reuse events in the New Year, but don’t wait for us to come to you – check out our video on YouTube, Vimeo and on FreeTradeIreland.ie

Click here to find out more.

Don’t hold onto your Christmas Tree like this guy! Bring your tree to your nearest recycling point this weekend. You can find your nearest Christmas Tree Recycling point on our recycling search facility page here. Happy Friday everyone.

Recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 mature trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 2 barrels of oil, and 4000 kilowatt hours of electricity.  This is enough energy to power the average home for 5 months. Pretty impressive no? Get recycling that paper people. )))