Omagh college to tackle ’litter scourge’ in Strule River

SOUTH West College will use a £23,000 grant to help tackle the ‘litter scourge’ in the Strule River

The money allows organisations, community groups and businesses across the North to benefit from funding to help protect local waterways and marine areas.

Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the scheme made £198,000 available for interested parties to purchase equipment and machinery that will aim to prevent litter entering our marine environment.

Supriya Foster, sustainability officer at South West College, said, “We plan to use the money to raise awareness of and combat plastic pollution in line with our commitment to the UN Sustainability Goals. This will be actioned by series of workshops, an awareness campaign and recycling centres introduced across all five campuses. We hope to achieve this by educating and promoting practical ways to make more sustainable choices.

“The workshops will encourage and promote recycling in an urban and inland waterway setting. We will also be adding over 80 new outdoor recycle points across our campuses, as well as increasing education on the importance of reducing and managing waste.”

South West College has the ambitious target of being completely plastic free campus in the next three years.

And the college hopes this funding will go in some way to complete this goal.