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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 2

Written Answers. - Recycling Plastics.

Question:

121 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans he has to address the low level of collection and recycling of plastic packaging containers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26709/01]

The recycling of post-consumer plastic beverage containers and other types of plastic packaging is generally more problematic than the recycling of other packaging materials, due to the light weight to volume ratio, sorting and pre-treatment requirements, high end market specifications and associated costs involved. Accordingly, the recycling rate of plastic packaging is generally lower than that of other packaging materials.

There is, however, a number of operators collecting and carrying out initial reprocessing of plastic packaging containers. Information on these can be found in the recently published Recycling Directory of Ireland, which provides comprehensive information on material recyclers and reprocessors. A copy of this directory has been placed in the Oireachtas Library.

A range of initiatives to expand recycling performance generally will be proposed in the forthcoming policy statement on preventing and recycling waste. In particular, it is intended to pursue a producer responsibility initiative for the collection and recovery of plastic packaging containers. My Department has already held initial discussions with relevant stakeholders in this regard.

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