Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Apr 1996

Vol. 464 No. 2

Written Answers. - Recycling Waste.

Ben Briscoe

Question:

90 Mr. Briscoe asked the Minister for the Environment his views on whether the REPAK initiative will only address 25 per cent of the domestic waste stream; the specific proposals, if any, he intends introducing to go beyond this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7881/96]

Ben Briscoe

Question:

91 Mr. Briscoe asked the Minister for the Environment the assessments, if any, which have been carried out on the long-term contribution to the development of a national recycling infrastructure by individual organisations which have received grants in support of recycling since 1989; if he accepts the value of such an assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7882/96]

Ben Briscoe

Question:

92 Mr. Briscoe asked the Minister for the Environment the total amount paid in grants to support recycling activities in each year since 1988; the allocation for 1996; the date upon which the 1994 and 1995 grants were advertised; the number of applicants for grants in each of the years 1994 and 1995; his future plans regarding these grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7883/96]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 91 and 92 together.

I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 142, 143 and 144 of 12 March 1996. As regards other aspects, applications for recycling grants in 1994 were invited by press advertisement on 23 September 1994; 152 applications were received. Applications for recycling grants in 1996 were invited from the private sector by press advertisement on 4 April 1996.

Applications will be invited from local authorities shortly.

Applications for recycling grants were not formally invited in 1995 due to delays in securing the agreement of the new grants scheme with the European Commission. Some 90 per cent of the total allocation of £100,000 for that year was paid in grants to three local authorities in respect of recycling facilities and to IBEC in connection with research for the REPAK initiative. Details of all grants paid in 1995 were published in Environment Bulletin No. 29 of February 1996, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library.

Recycling grants have contributed to a substantial expansion of recycling activity and infrastructure since 1989. For example, the number of collection points for recyclables has increased from some 60 sites in 1988 to 200 in 1993 and now exceeds 400. The recycling rate for packaging waste which was 10 per cent in 1993 is now estimated at 17 per cent. Recycling grants have also contributed significantly to the development of the Kerbside collection scheme which now serves some 34,000 households in the Dublin area. The total expenditure on recycling grants by my Department in each of the years 1989 to 1994 is set out in the following table:

Recycling Grants

Year	Amount (£000)
1989	227
1990	500
1991	350
1992	139
1993	398
1994	500
1995	100