Cork County Council awards €50k in funding for circular economy projects

Cork County Council has awarded more than €50,000 in funding to 29 community groups as part of its 2026 circular economy fund.

The fund supports local communities in moving away from the traditional ‘take-make-use dispose’ model towards a circular approach promoting actions that reuse, recycle, and minimise waste, with a particular focus on reducing single-use plastics (SUPs).

A wide range of projects have been supported this year, including reusable cup schemes at community events (circular cups), reusable container schemes for meals on wheels and the installation of permanent water refill stations at sports grounds and in schools.

Other projects that have been awarded funding include community centres moving away from single use plastics by replacing them with reusable crockery and the provision of water stations at events.

All projects aim to promote greater behavioural change, with the hope of people embracing reuse and avoiding single use plastics in all walks of life.

Encouraging innovative proposals 

The 2026 fund invited applications from schools, tidy towns groups, sports clubs and festival organisers, encouraging innovative proposals to reduce single use plastics.

With an increasing demand from the public to reduce single use plastics and a desire from communities to act, the fund supported these groups to take action and drive the circular economy.

Mayor of the county of Cork Mary Linehan Foley is proud of the strong collaboration which exists through the Circular Economy Fund.

“This fund shows what can be achieved when Cork County Council works hand in hand with our communities. From sports clubs and community groups to festival and event organisers, people right across the county are taking practical steps to reduce single use plastics and build a culture of reuse.

“We’re proud to support that local ambition and the positive change it delivers.”

For more information on the Circular Economy Fund visit: https://www.corkcoco.ie/en.