Environmental Awareness
Raising awareness of protection of the environment is a key part of the work of the Environment, Climate Action & Agriculture Section of Mayo County Council. This is done through specific targeted campaigns, community events and workshops, engagement with local media and having someone at the end of the phone & email to respond to customer queries.
Schools & Youth Programme
Mayo County Council delivers various environmental programmes with schools and youth groups.
Our Environment Awareness Officer is available to visit primary and secondary schools to offer advice on environment issues and issues relating to waste and litter.
The Environment Awareness Officer is also available to offer information and advice to pre-schools and those operating childcare facilities. All primary and secondary schools are invited to register for the Green School's Programme.
Each year various environmental workshops & competitions are organised for schools.
Contact environment@mayococo.ie for further information.
Green Schools
Green-Schools is an international programme designed to encourage and acknowledge whole school action for the environment. Green-Schools offers a well-defined controllable way for schools to take environmental issues from the curriculum and apply them to the day-to-day running of the school. Green-Schools is both a programme and an award scheme. Green-Schools is run in Ireland by An Taisce in co-operation with Local Authorities.
For further information visit: https://greenschoolsireland.org/
Community & Business Programmes
Mayo County Council's Environment Awareness Officer is available to support Community Groups, Tidy Towns Committees and the Business Community throughout the County particularly in the area of litter & waste management, recycling, composting & waste prevention. Environmental workshops, events and community talks are given on a regular basis. Mayo County Council support and encourage participation in national environment awareness campaigns such as National Spring Clean, WEEE Ireland recycling events, Stop Food Waste and Mywaste.ie
Contact: environment@mayococo.ie for further information.
Greener Community Awards
Each year Mayo County Council runs an award scheme called the Greener Community Awards.
The awards recognise the efforts of residents, community groups and businesses in protection and enhancement of the environment.
The opening date for applications and the various categories of the awards are advertised in local press in Spring/early Summer and prizes are given at an awards ceremony hosted by the Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council later in the year.
For further information email: environment@mayococo.ie
Spring into Litter Action League
Each Spring Mayo County Council run a Spring into Action Litter League.
“Spring into Litter Action” runs in tandem with the “Greener Community Campaign” and is open to Tidy Towns Committees and Community Groups in all towns and villages in the County.
The Spring into Litter Action Competition is a revised format of the Litter Action League and under new criteria all applicants are required to register with An Taisce for “National Spring Clean”. The opening date for applicaitons is advertised each year in local press.
For further information contact environment@mayococo.ie
Environmental Grants
Each year Mayo County Council administer two environmental grants, Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grants and the Community Action Fund.
Grants are advertised once they are announced. If you wish to be advised of the opening day for applications please let us know by emailing environment@mayococo.ie
Access to Information on the Environment (AIE)
You are entitled to request access to information on the environment that is held by us. This right comes from Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007 – 2014.
Categories of information you can access
The directive covers information held in written, visual, aural, electronic or any other material form. There are 6 categories of information within this directive:
- The state of the elements of the environment, e.g. air, water, soil, land, landscape, biological diversity.
- Factors affecting, or likely to affect, the elements of the environment, e.g., energy, noise, radiation, waste, other releases into the environment.
- Measures designed to protect the elements of the environment, e.g. policies, legislation, plans, programmes, environmental agreements.
- Reports on the implementation of environmental legislation.
- Analyses and assumptions used within the framework of measures designed to protect the environment.
- The state of human health and safety, the food chain, cultural sites and built structures in as much as they may be affected by the elements of the environment.
Please note: Article 4(1) provides that the A.I.E Regulations do not apply to environmental information that is required to be made available under any other legislation, for inspection or otherwise, to the public.
How to request Environmental Information
Submit your request in writing or electronic form and state that the application is being made under the A.I.E Regulations 2007 - 2014 and send it to the address below. Please provide contact details and state, in terms as specific as possible, the environmental information required and specify the form and manner of access desired.
Mayo County Council will reply to you within one month of receiving your application.
Right of Appeal
If a request is refused wholly or partially, or otherwise not dealt with properly, internal review may be sought not later than one month after the date of notification of the original decision. To request an internal review, write to the Council at the address below.
There is a further right of appeal to the Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information, 18 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2.
Contact Information
To make a request, or for more information contact:
AIE Officer,
Environment, Climate Action & Agriculture Department,
Mayo County Council
Aras an Chontae,
The Mall,
Castlebar,
Co Mayo.
Telephone (094) 9064167
Email: jhoran@mayococo.ie