Mayo-based business, Bee Green Dry Cleaning, has received the title of ‘One to Watch’ in the SCCUL Entrepreneur awards in the Professional Services category. Rita and Stephen Langan, proprietors of Bee Green Dry Cleaning, the first professional environmentally friendly garment cleaning service in Ireland, attended the awards ceremony in the Clayton Hotel, Galway.

ClAR ICH, a voluntary housing association in Claremorris, is establishing a Sustainable Housing Network for housing associations in Co. Mayo. CLAR ICH  received funding under the Wheel’s Training Links programme to deliver training and mentoring in all aspects of energy conservation.

Westport has officially become one of Ireland’s Smarter Travel Demonstration Areas 2012-2016, and will receive €5million Government investment to develop its sustainable travel plan, according to Minister Michael Ring TD. Limerick City and Dungarvan are the other two locations.

For much of the 20th century some of the biggest industries in Ballina were powered by renewable energy that came from hydroelectric power generated by the River Moy. And now a member of Ballina Town Council says that at a time when Ireland is desperately seeking out new sources of renewable and green energy, it is time once again to look to the magestic river to supply some of Ballina's energy needs.

Renewable energy produced in North Mayo could help secure the Ireland's energy needs and also provide up to 10 per cent of Britain’s electricity requirement, say the developers of a wind and wave energy project at Glinsk mountain near Belderrig in North Mayo. The company behind the project, Organic Power Ltd of Skibbereen, Co Cork, says construction work on the scheme would create hundreds of jobs.

Now that Christmas is over the question of where do you get rid of unwanted Christmas trees and cards arises. Thankfully, Mayo County Council is again this year providing a convenient recycling service which continues until January 14th for tress - and until the end of January for cards. Christmas cards and Christmas trees can be recycled at a number of locations throughout the county.

Anyone interested in developing their own organic garden will be delighted to hear that a hands-on course will be starting in January that will teach you how to to design, work on, and maintain your very own food paradise and fertility hub. The hands-on and theoretical course will be run in 6-modules, and, according to the organisers, who are committed organic growers in Mayo, it will be affordable. 

Spread a little sunshine and recycle your batteries for charity in Mayo. All portable batteries recycled before December 31st will raise funds for The Children's Sunshine Home and LauraLynn House. Recycle your batteries at any battery retailer or come along to the special events being held throughout Mayo by WEEE Ireland and supported by Mayo County Council. Battery Recycling events run from Monday, 5th to Saturday 10th, in a town near you.

Minister for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD, offically launched the Ballina Urban Cycle Network at Convent Hill on Friday afternoon. The cycle network provides 18.5km of cycle routes connecting residential areas of Ballina with schools, shopping and businesses. It also provides a leisure cycling facility for the growing number of cyclists in the town.