John Bruton
Ceist:88 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proportion of aluminium cans sold here containing drinks which are collected and recycled. [24841/01]
Written Answers. - Waste Management.
The latest official data on packaging waste arisings and recovery are contained in the national waste database report for 1998, published by the EPA in March 2000. The EPA estimates that 11,780 tonnes of aluminium packaging waste arose in the household and commercial waste streams in 1998. This includes aluminium beverage cans as well as other containers, such as aluminium trays for fast food, carton tops etc. However, the proportion of aluminium cans within this waste stream is not given and my Department does not have information on the number of aluminium beverage cans placed annually on the Irish market.
Based on data supplied by Repak Limited – the voluntary compliance scheme established by Irish industry to finance the collection and recovery of packaging waste – 719 tonnes of aluminium beverage containers were recovered for recycling in 1998. This tonnage represents 6% of all aluminium packaging waste but would represent a higher proportion of aluminium beverage cans placed on the market.
Repak Limited has further indicated that it supported the collection and recovery of 800 tonnes of aluminium beverage containers last year – an increase of 81 tonnes over the 1998 figure.