Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 1

Written Answers. - Environmental Policy.

Pat Carey

Ceist:

265 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that measures being taken by the recycling and packing industries and a company (details supplied) are adequate to comply with targets for recycling of used packaging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29290/00]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

In the light of Ireland's obligations under Council Directive 94/62/EC on Packaging and Packaging Waste, and the position indicated by the National Waste Database Report for 1998, I appointed consultants to review generally the policies and measures in place for achieving our packaging waste recovery targets and, in particular, to evaluate the performance of Repak Limited to date, the prospects for achieving Ireland's packaging waste recovery target for 2001, having regard to the activities of Repak Limited and other relevant or prospective developments; and the additional measures or structures which appear to be required in order to meet Ireland's packaging waste recycling-recovery targets for 2006.

This review will include recommendations regarding further measures that could be undertaken by Repak Limited to support the recovery of packaging waste from the municipal waste stream, increase the recovery rate for packaging waste generally, and support the development of indigenous reprocessing capacity for packaging waste.

I expect very shortly to receive the final report of the consultants. In the interim, Repak Limited has initiated a new scheme of payments to waste contractors to further incentivise the recovery of packaging waste. Funding is also available from Repak Limited to support the implementation of segregated household waste collection services such as that introduced this year in Dublin.

Question No. 266 taken with Question No. 31.