Going Greener Makes Business Sense

Cutting costs for your business was top of the agenda at a business breakfast in City Hall.

The seminar, which had speakers from DoE, Invest NI and IKEA, was organised by Belfast City Council as part of European Week for Waste Reduction (November 17-25).

The aim of the event was to educate the local business community about the importance of improved environmental efficiencies and how even the smallest of changes can help save them pounds.

Councillor Pat McCarthy, chairman of the council's Health and Environmental Services Committee, said: "We've been talking about the economic gloom for some time now and there`s a feeling that we've still a long way to go. Businesses have been hit hard by the current financial climate so today`s event is about focussing on ways in which they can manage waste more cost-effectively.

"Our commercial recycling collection accounts for 500 tonnes of waste every year so clearly businesses are another key focus for us. Today is about highlighting the importance of creating a 'greener' business and the benefits that brings. Waste reduction and how businesses manage their waste is moving higher up the agenda in the current financial climate and it was useful to hear firsthand how with just a bit of tweaking, businesses can reap financial rewards."

(CD)