We are excited to launch our brand new Sustainable Gifting page on the NIRN website, a dedicated public platform designed to showcase the incredible gifts, services, and experiences offered by our members across Northern Ireland.

Members from Belfast Tool Library, Banbridge Men’s Shed, and Portadown Men’s Shed recently came together at the Belfast Tool Library for a successful, hands-on Practical PAT Testing Workshop. Delivered by Mervyn McNeill, an experienced electrical engineer and volunteer from Hope 365, the session provided participants with a bridge between online theory and practical pat testing. Members worked directly with testing equipment, conducted visual inspections, and practiced how to log results of the tests.

From Local Action to Regional Impact: NIRN Delivers Circular Boost

How can sustainable resource management directly support local communities? Through Ards & North Down Borough Council’s Winter Coat Project 2025/26, the Council partnered with local charities Orchardville and Redeeming Our Communities Northern Ireland to rehome 300 coats.

The latest Circular Schools blog, “Teaching the Next Generation to Repair: Why Repair Skills Matter” is now live on the NIRN website. The article highlights how schools can develop sustainability by encouraging pupils to think before throwing items away, learn basic tool safety, and gain confidence fixing everyday objects. To

NIRN Executive Officer Eimear Montague recently attended the RREUSE Conference 2026 in Zagreb, celebrating its 25th anniversary and the new 2026–2030 Strategy alongside European policymakers and circular enterprises

The final day of our Community Resilience Programme concluded with a visit to Carrickmacross Toy Library, a community space dedicated to positive environmental change and social connection.

We are proud to share that NIRN recently took part in the inaugural Circular.ie Circularity Conference 2026. This landmark event brought together leading voices from across Ireland and Europe to share essential insights, latest research, and practical strategies for engaging communities in the circular transition.

Northern Ireland Resources Network (NIRN) successfully hosted its 5th annual conference on Tuesday 6th October at the Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre Limavady.

Electronic waste is currently the world’s fastest-growing waste stream. Millions of unused smartphones, tangled charging cables, forgotten laptops, and dead batteries gather dust in “junk drawers” everywhere, quietly locking away valuable materials like copper, gold, and rare earth elements. On 14 October, International E-Waste Day offers a prime opportunity to rescue those discarded gadgets and put them back into circulation. Its easy to get involved read how here

As autumn arrives in Northern Ireland, preparing for Halloween does not have to mean generating tonnes of single-use plastic and textile waste. By embracing a circular mindset through local costume swaps, creative mending, and zero-waste pumpkin management, communities can celebrate happily and sustainably. Reusing, repairing, and properly composting allow households to save money while protecting the local environment during this traditional spooky season.

Council representatives from across Northern Ireland recently gathered at St Columb’s Park House in Derry for the latest Local Authority Forum, placing sustainable food, reuse, and repair firmly at the top of the regional agenda.