Written Answers. - Waste Management.
Bernard Allen
Question:
351
Mr. Allen
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
his plans to address the low level of collection and recycling of plastic packaging and containers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17758/02]
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. This is due to the light weight to volume ratio, sorting and pre-treatment requirements, high end market specifications and associated costs involved. Therefore, the recycling rate of plastic packaging is lower than that of other packaging materials.
It is against this background that the local and regional waste management plans are now being implemented. They incorporate proposals for a significantly increased network of bring facilities to facilitate increased collection of recyclables, including plastic beverage containers. Receptacles for the deposit of such containers are already in place in a number of counties. It is envisaged that similar arrangements will be extended to all regions in the near future.
The local and regional waste management plans also provide for the progressive introduction of segregated household collection of dry recyclables in urban areas. A segregated collection service is already available to over 200,000 households throughout the Dublin region. This service is also available in Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Limerick, Louth, Meath, Tipperary and Waterford.
Dry recyclables can be sorted and baled for onward delivery to reprocessing outlets at material recovery facilities. The collection of plastic beverage containers under such arrangements is contingent on the availability of such facilities. In accordance with the commitments in An Agreed Programme for Government, substantial capital grant assistance will be made available to support the early development of waste recovery infrastructure, including material recovery facilities. The provision of such services and facilities should facilitate significantly increased collection and recovery of plastic beverage containers in the years ahead.
As indicated in the recent policy statement, Preventing and Recycling Waste: Delivering Change, further initiatives to facilitate additional recovery-recycling of specific materials, such as PET bottles for plastic soft drinks containers, will be targeted with support from Repak and local authorities.
Question No. 352 answered with Question No. 43.
Question No. 353 answered with Question No. 44.
Question No. 354 answered with Question No. 43.
