Mr. Liam Moloney:

What we are achieving nationally, in terms of farm plastics recycling, is spectacular. No country in Europe comes within reach of what we are doing at the moment. We are achieving an 80% recycling rate for our waste plastic stream. Currently, in the context of packaging plastic, for example, a 30% recycling rate is being achieved. What is being achieved in regard to farm plastics recycling in Ireland is quite spectacular and that is because the key stakeholders - the producers and farmers - are working co-operatively in our scheme.

Separate to us, independent collectors made a commercial decision to go out and play the market. They were entitled to do so; we have no problem with that. They now find themselves in difficulty because the market has changed. This is not a matter for IFFPG to address but rather for others, and we wish them well. Farm plastics recycling in Ireland is a spectacular success story by any measure.