Landfill lessons: Time is running out to meet the EU landfill diversion targets, according to Cré, the Composting Association of Ireland. It wants the Government to increase the landfill levy "to counteract a worrying scenario where recycling material will end up in landfill because it's cheaper".
According to Cré, many composting sites are working at just 20 per cent of their processing capacity and some are in danger of closing down. This week the Environmental Protection Agency also published its Waste Report for 2007, and Minister for the Environment John Gormley announced new legislation that will see brown bins rolled out to commercial premises.
Céide Fields talk
Dr Seamus Caulfield, a former professor of archaeology at UCD, will give the first talk in the Heritage season of public lectures at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Castlebar, Co Mayo on Wednesday at 8pm.
Dr Caulfield has devoted 30 years to the excavation, research and development of the prehistoric Céide Fields in north Mayo (right). The discovery by his father, Patrick, of artificially organised stones at the bottom of his turf bank in 1934 was the first step towards what has become one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe. Every summer since 1968, archaeology students have come to the area to study and the Céide fields and its research centre at Belderrig continue to inspire experts and amateurs. www.gmit.ie
How does your hedge grow?
Members of the public can watch the craft of hedge laying at a workshop in Sonairte Ecology Centre, Laytown, Co Meath next Saturday from 10.30am-4pm. Hedges built in this way offer ecologically sound fencing for livestock because their weaving structure allows branches to sprout fresh shoots while giving wildlife a protective home. The root system of hedgerows slows the movement of water through the landscape, which reduces the risk of flooding. Enfo's wildlife exhibition Networks for Nature will also be on show throughout the day. Those interested in joining future hedge-laying workshops can find out more from the Hedge Laying Association of Ireland. www.hedgelaying.ie
ECOWEB
www.dia.ie
Launched this week, this is the site for the Dictionary of Irish Architects, a flagship database project by the Irish Architectural Archive. It contains biographical details of 6,000 architects working in Ireland between 1720 and 1940 and 40,000 buildings they worked on. Searchable by architect or building, it will become an excellent resource for students, conservationists, planners and anyone with an interest in the buildings around them.
sthompson@irishtimes.com
