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North West Hospice commends ATU for outstanding bottle recycling initiative
North West Hospice Charity has commended Atlantic Technological University (ATU) for its outstanding bottle and can recycling initiative, which has raised an impressive €15,452.60 to date in support of hospice services across the region. Based on Ireland’s 15-cent return per container, this achievement represents the collection of approximately 100,000 bottles and cans, a powerful demonstration of what sustained community action can achieve.
The charity said the contributions from ATU have made a real and meaningful difference, helping to sustain and enhance hospice services for patients and families across the North West. Funding raised through the initiative this year has supported a wide range of services, including frontline clinical care, professional supervision for care teams, maintenance of hospice facilities, night nursing support, holistic therapies for patients, assistance for families requiring temporary accommodation, and a garden maintenance programme that helps create a welcoming and calming environment. In addition, the funding has enabled investment in staff wellbeing and development through training opportunities and the hospice’s staff support and wellbeing programme, ensuring care teams are supported to continue delivering compassionate, high-quality care.
Mary Forte of North West Hospice Charity extended sincere thanks to the students, staff, and wider ATU community for their continued commitment,
“This initiative shows how small individual actions, when combined, can have an extraordinary impact. We are incredibly proud of the ATU Sligo campus community for getting behind this initiative,” said Robert Craig, ATU Sligo Recycling Initiative Coordinator. “The success of the bottle and can recycling programme shows how everyday actions on campus can collectively generate significant support for organisations like North West Hospice Charity, while also promoting positive environmental habits.”
President of ATU, Dr Orla Flynn said,
Initiatives like this are an excellent example of our students and staff working together, where we are not only learning about sustainability and social responsibility, we are living it. As a regional university, ATU is deeply embedded in the communities that we serve, and the work taking place across our campuses demonstrates our commitment to supporting people, place, and planet while preparing graduates who understand their responsibility to society.
Reflecting on the initiative from a staff and volunteer perspective, Mary Nolan, Lecturer and Volunteer at ATU, said:
“I have seen first-hand the impact North West Hospice has had on my mam and my family when my mam was a patient in 2022. Being part of an initiative that supports such an essential service is something I am very proud of, both personally and professionally.”
ATU student volunteer, Lauren said:
“It’s something really simple, but it makes you feel part of something bigger. Knowing that recycling on campus is directly supporting North West Hospice makes you think differently about the impact of everyday choices.”
Xavier Velay, Head of Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at ATU Sligo said:
“This bottle recycling initiative reflects ATU’s core commitment to valuing both people and the environment. Through collective action, we are not only supporting vital services like North West Hospice but also reinforcing behaviours that contribute to a greener, more caring society.”
Commenting on the initiative, Dr John Scahill co-lead of the ATU ESD Academy and lead developer of ATU’s SDG related resources, said;
“What stands out about the recycling initiative at ATU’s Sligo Campus is how it brings sustainability to life in a very real and meaningful way. It reflects exactly what we aim to achieve through ATU’s sustainability programmes, connecting learning with action and helping students see how everyday choices can contribute to wider social and environmental impact.”
The success of the bottle and can recycling initiative would not be possible without the collective effort of many members of ATU community. This includes the ongoing contribution of canteen and cleaning staff, whose day-to-day work is central to keeping the initiative running; the commitment of student and staff volunteers; and the sustained coordination required to manage such a large-scale programme. In particular, ATU recognised the role of Robert Craig, whose leadership and coordination have been instrumental in bringing these efforts together and ensuring the initiative’s continued success.
Photo caption: Mary Forte of North West Hospice Charity receiving another cheque from ATU. Over the past year, ATU has raised over 15,000 euro by collecting over 100,000 cans and bottles on campus.
Aidan Haughey
Communications Manager
Tel: +353 87 961 8355
