Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 21 May 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Circular Economy in the Food Sector: Discussion

Mr. David Flynn:

As Mr. Quirke outlined, the EPA has less of a role in waste collection. I will give some statistics that might be helpful to the committee. In terms of total packaging, there is a legal target of 65% by 2025. At the moment, we are at 58%, so it looks as though that target is within reach, but how it will work out remains to be seen. In terms of plastic packaging, though, there is a 50% recycling target by 2025 and at the moment we are at approximately 28%, so the indications are that we will not meet that target but it remains to be seen.