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Waste Management

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 September 2018

Wednesday, 26 September 2018

Ceisteanna (214)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

214. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if plastic waste generated here and sold or diverted to incineration can be counted in the measure of recycling rates; if he will seek assurances from a company (details supplied) that its reported rates of recycling do not include plastics sold or diverted to incineration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38934/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In accordance with the Waste Framework Directive the recovery of waste packaging includes a variety of waste processing operations including: - Recycling

- Incineration

- Solid Recovered Fuel (which replaces fossil fuels in cement kilns)

However, only materials recycled and not recovered can be counted as recycled either in Ireland or abroad.

The EU Packaging Directive sets targets for all packaging including a 22.5% recycling rate for plastic packaging.

Repak, operating under my approval, is a not for profit producer-funded compliance scheme tasked with helping Ireland achieve these targets.  Repak report quarterly to my Department and annually to me on their work and as mentioned above, only material that is recycled can be reported towards the attainment of recycling targets.  Repak charges fees to its members in accordance with the amount and type of packaging they place on the Irish market. These fees are used to subsidise the collection and recovery of waste packaging through registered recovery operators across Ireland

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for the collation and analysis of waste packaging data. The latest packaging statistics provided by the EPA to the European Commission in June 2018, indicate that 275,510 tonnes of plastic waste was generated in Ireland in 2016.  Of this 35.7% was recycled and 79.7% was either recycled or recovered.

Question No. 215 answered with Question No. 213.
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