Vol. 536 No. 2
330 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, in view of the target of a minimum of 25% recovery of packaging waste required by 20 June 2001, under Article 6.5 of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive 94/92, he will provide the latest available statistics for 1999 and 2000 for the percentage of recovered attained; and the current position in this regard. [13669/01]
The latest official data on packaging waste recovery is contained in the national waste database report for 1998, published by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA's best estimate is that just over 100,000 tonnes of packaging waste was recovered in 1998, giving a recovery rate of 14.8%. The EPA estimates that nearly 122,000 tonnes of packaging waste was recovered in 1999 indicating an annual recovery rate of 17.3%, though this estimate is subject to possible revision. Data in relation to 2000 is not yet available. Repak Ltd. aims to support the recovery of more than 200,000 tonnes of packaging waste in 2001, in order to ensure the 25% recovery target for this year is exceeded.
