Ireland exports one and a half million tons of non-hazardous waste every year. Later this month the Department of the Environment will hold a one day forum to encourage business entrepreneurs to ‘upcycle’, to turn that waste into new products that people want.

Speaking at that seminar will be a 28 year old American, Tom Szaky who dropped out of Princeton university to set up Terracycle which is now one of the fastest growing companies in America. I’ll be talking to tom in a few minutes time.

We’re just beginning to talk about the smart green economy in Ireland but Valerie Cox has been to look at a company in Castlebellingham in Co Louth which has taken ‘upcycling’ on board.