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Chris P
17-01-2007, 11:10 PM
"Irish People Are Recycling More Than Ever"
(Dept of the Environment Press Release, 11-1-07)

"Irish people are recycling more than ever. They have shown that given the right infrastructure and the right incentive, they will make the switch to recycling. There is also evidence that we are breaking the link between economic growth and waste generation and this is a welcome and encouraging trend". This was the reaction of Mr. Dick Roche T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government today (11 January) to the publication of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s National Waste Report 2005. The Report presents the latest available national statistics on municipal waste collection and management.

The Minister made his remarks at the inaugural Recycling Consultative Forum which is taking place today and tomorrow (11 & 12 January 2007) in Dublin Castle. The Forum is intended to facilitate a high-level debate on the future direction of recycling in Ireland, assist in identifying the barriers to progress in this area and advance suggestions on how these might be overcome. Discussions will centre around the new EU Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste and the associated review of the EU Waste Framework Directive. Up to 150 delegates from local authorities and other public bodies, industry and non-governmental organisations are in attendance.

Growth in Infrastructure leads to Growth in Recycling
The Report shows the recycling rate is now 35%, the target for 2013. "I am delighted that we have reached this benchmark. When this target was set in 1998 in the Government's policy document, Changing Our Ways, we were recycling as little as 9% of our municipal waste. No one then imagined that in less than a decade, we would be where we are today. The Government put in place the policies and resources to support this achievement – more bring facilities, more segregated collections for recyclable materials, the roll-out of Pay-by-Use and increased awareness through the Race Against Waste", said the Minister.

The National Waste Report shows that there are record numbers of bring facilities - 1,937 bring banks and 81 civic amenity sites (or recycling centres) - available to the public across the country.

The Minister went on to acknowledge the contribution of the various stakeholders who had contributed to this success. "Local authorities continue to play a central role in providing services and regulating activities. The waste industry is increasingly providing services across the country. The business sector has taken its responsibilities seriously both at individual company level and through compliance schemes for waste streams like packaging and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). But in particular I applaud the householders around the country who are using recycling facilities and segregated collections in ever increasing numbers. They are the ones driving increases in recycling", said the Minister.

Breaking the link between economic growth and waste
"In recent years we have started to see a break in the link between economic growth and growth in waste", the Minister noted. "The Irish economy grew by over 18% in the period 2001 to 2005 but growth in waste arisings was nearly 6% lower over the same period. In 2005, this trend has continued with waste arisings growing by 1.6% while the economy grew by 5.3%", said Minister Roche.

"This is a significant event in waste management terms. A key to sustainable development is decoupling economic growth and environmental degradation and this is being achieved when it comes to waste. The Government remains committed to a strong economy and a clean environment for all. The challenge now is to endeavour to maintain this positive trend in the years ahead", said the Minister.

Packaging Waste Target Exceeded
Ireland has a strong track record in recovering and recycling packaging waste. Packaging waste recovery levels were as low as 14% in 1998. The European Union set targets of 25% for Ireland by 2001 and 50% by 2005. These were both achieved and with a recovery rate of nearly 60% in 2005, Ireland continues – for a third year in a row - to exceed its EU targets. In fact, Ireland has in 2005 reached the target set by the EU for Ireland for 2011.

"This is an absolutely astounding achievement and a great credit to everyone involved – householders, waste operators, local authorities, industry and Repak. I want to build on this achievement particularly in the area of waste prevention. I am putting in place a National Strategy on packaging waste to ensure that we build on our excellent performance in this area in the years ahead. In particular, I am determined that prevention will be an important element of our plans to deal with packaging waste. I have no doubt that Ireland will in the years ahead comfortably exceed the 60% recovery target set for 2011", commented the Minister.

Looking Forward
The Minister thanked the Environmental Protection Agency for its work in compiling and publishing the Report. "The work carried out by the Agency in preparing national waste statistics is vital to achieving progress in waste management. It informs policy makers, regulators, industry and the public of where progress has been made and points to the areas where our greatest challenges lie", the Minister remarked.

"In the years ahead, we must make further progress in waste prevention and minimisation and in diverting more waste from landfill. The implementation of the National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste is a key element in the approach as is the provision of modern infrastructure, including thermal treatment, to reduce our reliance on landfill. I am confident on the basis of the remarkable advances made over the past eight years and the solid foundations put in place during that period for future progress, that we look forward to even greater advances in waste management in the years ahead", the Minister concluded.

(Source: http://www.environ.ie/doei/doeihome.nsf/0/D822708B916D665680257266007429D3)