Vol. 515 No. 3
75 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if Government targets set in 1994 for the recycling of aluminium, ferrous metals, glass, paper and plastics were achieved in 1999; if not, the reason in this regard; and the action, if any, contemplated to increase recycling and recovery rates. [5760/00]
The 1994 strategy for recycling domestic and commercial waste, Recycling for Ireland, outlined a target 25% recovery rate for the packaging waste stream to be achieved over the five years to 1999 for paper, plastics, metals, ferrous metal and aluminium and a 55% recovery target for glass.
Information and statistics on recycling performance in 1999 are not available at present. I understand the Environmental Protection Agency will shortly publish a national waste database for 1998. In view of the difficulties experienced in Ireland and internationally in relation to the recycling markets generally, some underachievement of targets set in 1994 may be unavoidable. In regard to factors influencing recovery and recycling performance, and action planned and under way in these regards, I also refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 25 and 59 on today's Order Paper.
