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Sports clubs step up their game with toolkits to reduce waste

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In Ireland, 90% of sports clubs believe they could be doing more to improve their waste management efforts. And now, a suite of toolkits have been released to help clubs take action by tackling their waste with practical steps, from reducing plastic bottles to organising sports gear swaps.

In Ireland, 90% of sports clubs believe they could be doing more to improve their waste management efforts. And now, a suite of toolkits have been released to help clubs take action by tackling their waste with practical steps, from reducing plastic bottles to organising sports gear swaps.

What do badminton, hockey and GAA clubs all have in common? They’re all finding new ways to make their clubs more sustainable. Whether attending training or a match, focusing on the game is the main priority - but what impact does this have?. These new toolkits, created by Mywaste.ie, are helping clubs to reduce their impact through waste prevention, reuse and repair in a circular way.

Reaching thousands of sports clubs operating across the country, these toolkits include guides on how to run gear swaps and eliminate single use plastics together with ready made social media posts.

With a bit of planning and tips from mywaste.ie, organising regular swaps is easy:

  • Gear Collection - Arrange a drop-off point, time and specific items accepted

  • Quality Control and Sorting - Only accept clean gear in good condition. Sort through all gear to make browsing easier on the day

  • Promotion - Use club social media channels, team groups, and club newsletters to advertise the event details

  • Leftover Gear - Decide ahead of time what you will do with leftovers. Save them for the next swap or donate to a charity shop. 

A new home for your old favourite jersey

Gear and boot swaps can be a great way to reduce waste in your club. These swaps work well for all ages but are particularly useful for younger teams, where players often grow out of gear and boots that are still in good condition. With trends moving quickly in sportswear, the turnover of perfectly good gear is higher than ever. Swaps allow players to update their sporting wardrobe in a circular way.

Running swaps every few months means new members get a chance to be involved and people get into the habit of saving their gear for the swaps.


Game, set, reuse


We’ve all heard the term ‘emotional support water bottle,’ - well, bringing a reusable bottle with you everywhere has more benefits than you might think. Did you know that Irish adults spend more than €200 a year on bottled water?

Not only does having your own bottle mean you’re reducing waste, but the bright colours and fun designs mean it’s easy to spot your bottle when grabbing a sip between sets.

We recommend looking for bottles with wide mouths for easy cleaning and leak proof lids. Ready to ditch single use coffee cups? Read our top tips on getting started.

Reducing waste on a club level might seem daunting, but with a clear action plan and team work, real positive changes will be made. You and your club can download the sports club toolkit now and find more waste reduction tips at mywaste.ie.

Bringing circularity into sports is easy with our guide on how to make your sporting life more sustainable.