Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Oct 2002

Vol. 555 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Waste Management.

Paul McGrath

Question:

389 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no outlet for recycled glass here, that recycling groups must now send their recycled glass to Quinn Glass in County Fermanagh, and further, that due to the imbalance between subsidies payable by the Irish and UK Governments, prices paid to suppliers here by this company for crushed and uncrushed cullet has been reduced by up to 80%; if in consultation with Repak, he will review this as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18018/02]

Willie Penrose

Question:

397 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no outlet for recycled glass here; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that as a result of the imbalance between the Republic of Ireland and UK Government glass recycling schemes, this will result in a drop in price to glass recycling organisations involved in such projects here with the consequent threat to jobs in such small companies and organisations; his plans to take steps to deal with this issue urgently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18201/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 397 together.

I am aware of the difficulties being encountered by companies and organisations involved in the collection of glass for recycling arising from the recent announcement by the company named – which is the sole glass recycling plant on the island of Ireland on foot of the closure of the Irish Glass Bottle plant in Ringsend earlier this year – to reduce the price paid for crushed and uncrushed glass cullet sourced here. Glass recycling is a function of the waste market and does not receive direct Government subsidy either here or in the UK. However, it is subsidised by the operation of compliance schemes in both jurisdictions. I understand that one of the reasons given for the price reduction affecting Irish glass recycling relates to the different pricing structure of UK packaging waste recovery schemes.

My Department has been in contact with Repak – the company established by industry to meet Ireland's packaging waste recycling targets and which subsidises the collection of packaging waste for recycling in this country – to discuss potential solutions to the current difficulties and possible alternative markets for collected glass. I am also meeting Rehab Recycling Partnership, the largest organisation collecting glass from bring banks and commercial premises, to discuss the issue. The Government's policy statement, Preventing and Recycling Waste: Delivering Change, published last March, also provides for the establishment of a market development group to drive a new market development programme to develop further outlets for glass and other materials. This programme will build on the comprehensive study by the Clean Technology Centre, Cork, on a strategy for developing recycling markets in Ireland, which has identified a number of potential outlets for glass.