Funding for two Mayo projects under Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme
Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment with special responsibility for the Circular Economy, Alan Dillon, has announced funding for two Mayo-based initiatives as part of the €650,000 awarded nationally under the fourth Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS).
Fourteen projects across the country have been selected for support, with Mayo’s Accelerating Change Together (ACT) and Inishturk Community Club CLG among this year’s successful recipients.
Minister Dillon made the announcement during a visit to ACT’s offices in Ballina, where he met with the team to discuss their project and the wider impact of circular innovation in the region.
He said: “Supporting local innovation is central to Ireland’s transition to a circular economy. I am especially pleased to see two Mayo projects recognised this year. Both ACT and Inishturk Community Club are demonstrating the creativity, leadership and practical climate action that will help us reduce waste, reuse resources and strengthen our communities.”
ACT has been awarded €48,000 to develop and pilot a ‘re-verify’ framework for the performance-based reuse of construction materials in Ireland. The project aims to create a verified compliance route for salvaged items, helping to reduce construction waste – the country’s largest waste stream – while supporting local jobs and skills.
Following a tour of the ACT facility, Minister Dillon added: “This project exemplifies the type of forward-thinking solutions needed to embed circularity in the construction sector. By creating new pathways for reuse, ACT is helping to cut waste, lower emissions and build a more resilient local economy.”
Inishturk Community Club CLG has also been awarded €48,000 for a circular food waste initiative on the island. The project will install a composter and biogas generator to convert organic waste into compost and renewable fuel, supporting community gardens and reducing reliance on off-island transport. Workshops on food waste, repair and reuse will further strengthen community resilience and sustainability.
“These Mayo projects show how local action can deliver national impact,” Minister Dillon said. “From construction to food systems, communities in Mayo are leading the way in demonstrating what a circular economy looks like in practice.”
Denise Charlton, chief executive of Community Foundation Ireland, welcomed the announcement. She stated: “At Community Foundation Ireland, we see every day how much potential there is in communities when the right support is in place. This funding is another boost for the people and organisations finding new and practical ways to reduce waste and make their existing work more circular. When innovation and community come together, real positive change happens.”
The 14 funded projects span key circular economy areas, including plastics, textiles, reuse and repurposing, circular construction, batteries and tyres, and food-waste prevention.
Since 2024, the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme has been administered in partnership with Community Foundation Ireland, a philanthropic hub supporting social impact initiatives across the country.