Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, report published yesterday, the National Waste Statistics Summary Report for 2020. It shows that waste generation in Ireland continues to increase and that our rising levels of waste make it very difficult for us to maintain or increase our current recycling rates. Crucially, it shows we are in danger of missing our EU 2025 targets for municipal waste and plastic packaging recycling targets. Ireland remains reliant on the export market to deal with the vast majority of waste generated in this country, including residual municipal waste, hazardous waste, plastic waste and, more recently, biowaste.

In light of the passage of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022, what measures will the Government take to plan for an improvement in the figures outlined by the EPA? Will the Government give a commitment to raise public awareness of the circular economy?

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