A community group has found a novel way of using discarded protective Covid-19 guards by turning them into 'screen' houses for gardens.
Tús Community Employment Scheme members have finished a prototype of the green house they built from the disused screens from their own offices and are now planning to roll out the project so local groups can have their own screen house in which to grow their own vegetables.
The innovative idea came about when Tús supervisor in Co Meath, Tommy Melia, was asked by his workplace to take away the screens which were used in all offices, shops and supermarkets to guard against Covid-19 during the pandemic.
Tommy supervises 25 participants of the scheme who carry out community work for local groups and the group thought there must be a way of reusing the sneeze guards, rather than just dumping them.
"We were asked to get rid of the screens used in the Meath Partnership offices, and we always try to recycle old materials we come across on jobs.
"We could be cutting grass in a community or painting dressing rooms or cleaning up old graveyards all around the country and often bring items with us in case we can use them again.
"We decided to use old bits of wood with ten of the screens to make a greenhouse, or a screen house if you wish," he laughed.
"The prototype worked out well, and now we hope to build more to allow community groups to grow their own produce. We will just have to try this one first to see if the screens work as well as a normal greenhouse in growing produce.
"There must have been hundreds and thousands of screens used in shops and offices during the pandemic to protect employees from the virus, and now they are no longer needed, I'm sure many companies still have them lying about somewhere."
He said they are asking businesses who may still have some in storage to get in touch, and they will take them off their hands and build something that can be used for sustainability in the community.
"If there is anyone who may need our help with various community projects around the county, you can visit the Meath Partnership office website and download an expression of interest form," he said.
