Vol. 415 No. 8
346 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the increasing interest in recycling and the elimination of waste packaging throughout the country; if he will undertake any promotion of this important development in view of the immense contributions which this action can have in respect of environmental protection, including the easier elimination of waste materials; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I strongly endorse the value of promoting reuse and recycling of waste packaging. The environment action programme included a number of measures which are being actively pursued by my Department, including a recycling grants scheme, and significant support for recycling activities is also being provided by the private sector. As I have previously indicated, my Department have recently commissioned a study to assess the overall potential for recycling from the domestic/commercial waste stream and to advise on strategies for maximising this potential. Proposals at EC level with regard to packaging and packaging waste will, when adopted, also have implications for the reduction, reuse and recycling of packaging materials.
