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Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020

Tuesday, 10 November 2020

Questions (246, 248)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

246. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which waste continues to be disposed of by way of recycling, landfill or incineration throughout the country; the most favoured means of such disposal at present; his plans for the future in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35417/20]

View answer

Bernard Durkan

Question:

248. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which reliance on landfill waste disposal facilities continues to be monitored with particular reference to the utilisation of best practice in terms of reduce, reuse and recycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35419/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 248 together.   

European, national and regional waste management policy is predicated on the waste hierarchy as set out in Article 4 of the 2008 Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC), whereby the prevention, preparing for reuse, recycling and other recovery of waste are preferred options to the disposal or landfilling of waste. 

Ireland’s recycling rate for municipal waste was 38% in 2018, while our landfill rate for municipal waste was just 14% in 2018, representing a significant reduction from the 2017 figure of 23% and continuing the ongoing welcome decline from the 62% recorded for 2008. 43% of municipal waste was incinerated with energy recovery in 2018, significantly higher than the 32% recorded for 2017. Just 7% of municipal waste was incinerated as recently as 2012. Significantly more residual waste is now used as a fuel (energy recovery) than disposed to landfill. Further information is available at http://www.epa.ie/nationalwastestatistics/municipal/

New waste management targets in the EU Landfill Directive require Member States to reduce the amount of municipal waste going to landfill to 10% or less of the total amount of municipal waste generated (by weight) by 2035. In addition, amendments to the Waste Framework Directive require that recycling rates of 55%, 60% and 65% of municipal waste (by weight) must be achieved by 2025, 2030 and 2035 respectively.

The recently launched Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy represents a step change in our approach to waste in Ireland, as it shifts the focus away from management to a fuller reconsideration of how we use resources and materials.  The measures in the Plan are intended to minimise the amount of waste generated, eliminating waste before it can be created and diverting as much as possible to beneficial reuse or recovery and will help us deliver on our national targets.

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