Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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176. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of chemical recycling for flexible plastic packaging and other mixed polyethylene/polypropylene in Ireland; the plans to improve the infrastructure for this recycling in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27063/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The term chemical recycling is generally understood to cover a range of technologies that can include the use of heat and chemicals such as solvents in varying degrees. As matters stand, there is neither a formal definition of chemical recycling in Irish or European waste law nor policy agreement as to its place within the waste hierarchy.

My Department has no plans in relation to infrastructure specifically for chemical recycling. More generally, through Repak, the national packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, Ireland incentivises domestic recycling infrastructure ahead of recycling abroad by providing, for example:

- an additional reprocessing subsidy for household collection which was introduced in 2020 and is only available to plastic re-processors with operations in Ireland. In 2022, this subsidy increased from €35 per tonne to €50 per tonne.

- a stepped subsidy system for commercial collection with the highest subsidy payable where material is recycled in Ireland, mid-range funding where material is recycled in EU/UK, and a reduced subsidy for material sent outside Europe.

It should also be noted that the Local Authority Sector's draft National Waste Management Plan is currently the subject of a public consultation. The Plan includes proposals to address infrastructure needs which can provide for greater circularity and self-sufficiency and to reduce the risk and reliance on waste exports. The Plan may be accessed on the MyWaste.ie portal.