Episode 03

Item 1
Community & Lifestyle
Recycling in Ireland
With Ireland’s existing landfill capacity running out, and the search for new sites becoming increasingly difficult, waste disposal is more regulated and more expensive than it’s ever been. The good news is that Irish people are recycling more. But, because facilities are still hopelessly limited in most areas, it’s not as easy or convenient as it should be.
We visit V & W Recycling in Dundalk, county Louth where recycling has become like second nature to local residents.

Item 2
Environment & Health
Outdoor Air
In this piece we examine the quality of Ireland’s outdoor air – supposedly among the cleanest in Europe. We take a behind the scenes look at Air Monitoring Day in Dublin, which shows that Ireland’s city fumes aren’t so different to those of our EU neighbours.

Item 3
Heritage
Biodiversity & SAC’s
To survive, plants and animals coexist with a wide range of other species, on which they rely for food, protection and reproduction. In general, the richer the variety of species, the richer and healthier the environment
This diversity of plant and animal life is the biological foundation on which entire ecosystems depend, it’s called biodiversity.
Whether or not we appreciate this complex natural interdependency, one thing is clear– biodiversity is under threat. Urbanisation along with the monoculture and pollution caused by intensive farming has destroyed more wildlife and natural habitats than any force of nature. In Ireland, like the rest of Europe, dozens of valuable ecosystems are now protected by EU legislation.
We visit one such habitat on the Mullet Peninsula, Co Mayo, where the spectacular landscape of the peninsula ranges from seashore and dunes to wetland and meadow.

Item 4
The Big Picture
Transport & Energy
Ireland has a bad habit that’s proving very hard to break – an addiction to the private car. Hardly surprising, given the sad state of Ireland’s public transport system in the 20th century, but that doesn’t make it any less damaging.
Aside from pollution and congestion, transport is also the fastest growing source of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which contribute to the single worst environmental threat facing the world today – climate change.
But is public transport really more energy efficient? Do cars generate more greenhouse gas than double-deckers and diesel trains? We decided to find out by comparing three 25km journeys into Dublin at rush hour – by train, by bus and by car.