An exhibition for the generation not familiar with the milk bottle, or those who have forgotten its environmental significance, has opened in Dublin. Commissioned by a coalition of environmental groups, "Making the Most of Materials" is to go on a nationwide tour next month.
While great mistakes take a heavy toll on the environment, "the greater risk to our environment almost certainly comes from the slow but unrelenting build-up of imbalances and covert pollution", said the Minister of State for the Environment, Mr Dan Wallace, who opened the exhibition yesterday. It was an innovative response to the "potentially disastrous movement towards a disposable culture". Mr Wallace paid tribute to the coalition's recent "plastic bag awareness campaign." Prior to the last election, Fianna Fail made a commitment to tax plastic bags but it has yet to act on this. The exhibition was focusing on sustainable resource use rather than waste management, coalition spokesman Mr Damien Nolan said.
"We have all been involved in fighting dumps and incinerator proposals. In every case we realise that we are dealing with waste from an unsustainable line of production and consumption."
The exhibition, at ENFO buildings, 17 St Andrews Street, Dublin 2, runs until August 15th, before going on a nationwide tour. Cork County Council is next to put it on display. It is also available to schools, libraries and local authorities.
