Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)

My Department is committed to increasing recycling rates, reducing plastic waste and supporting investment in domestic recycling capacity. In 2023, Ireland recycled 30% of plastic packaging, exceeding the EU target of 22.5%. However, stricter targets of 50% by 2025 and 55% by 2030 will be challenging. These figures cover all plastics, including PET. As EU exporting reporting does not isolate individual polymers, currently most PET collected is recycled abroad due to economic viability, but measures are underway to change that.

The deposit return scheme introduced in 2024 was a game changer, creating a high quality separate PET stream for recycling. Over 2 billion bottles and cans have been returned and there is a 76% return rate, close to the EU target of 77% by 2025. Under the single use plastic directive, PET plastic beverage bottles must include 25% recycled content from 2025, rising to 30% by 2030. This creates strong market demand for recycled PET and makes investment in Ireland's recycling infrastructure more attractive. Schemes like the deposit return scheme and Repak play a key role in meeting targets and supporting investment. Repak currently provides €100 per 10 tonnes of plastics recycled in Ireland and is working with industry to expand capacity. The forthcoming whole-of-government circular economy strategy will set ambitious targets to reduce resource use, increase reuse and drive innovation. My Department is working closely to create conditions for higher PET recycling rates through regulation, market incentives and investment in domestic capacity.

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