Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 345: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the aggregate volumes of material recycled from the different waste streams, household, industrial and so on; the progress that has been made; the percentage of material recycled in the past five years; the present level of recycling compared with the targets that have been set in the past by Governments for recycling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24081/04]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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National waste statistics are collated and published by the EPA. In its national waste database report for 1998, the EPA estimated that 166,684 tonnes, or 9%, of municipal waste, namely household and commercial, was recovered for recycling in that year. In its corresponding 2001 report, the EPA estimated that the recovery rate of municipal waste had increased to 305,554 tonnes, or 13.3%, while in the interim national waste database report for 2002, published in June 2004, the EPA estimated that the recovery of municipal waste had further accelerated to 496,905 tonnes, or 20.7%.

In the three EPA reports mentioned, the recovery rate of packaging waste, which is a significant waste stream accounting for over a third of all municipal waste arisings, was estimated to have increased from 100,905 tonnes in 1998, or 14.8%, to 221,266 tonnes, or 27.2%, in 2001, and to have further increased to 296,389 tonnes, or 34.9%, in 2002.

Data in respect of construction and demolition waste and industrial waste was not included in the interim waste database report for 2002. However, the recovery of construction and demolition waste was estimated to have increased from 1,171,572 tonnes, or 43.3%, in 1998 to 2,364,886 tonnes, or 65.4%, in 2001. Arising principally from revised methodologies in estimating industrial waste generation, the recovery rate of industrial waste was estimated to have decreased from 26.6% in 1998 to 25.5% in 2001.

Recycling is a significant element of the Government's overall integrated policy framework on waste management, which is based on the internationally recognised waste hierarchy, prioritising waste prevention, minimisation, reuse, recycling, energy recovery and the environmentally sound disposal of residual waste which cannot be recycled or recovered.

This significant emphasis on recycling is reflected in the 1998 policy statement Changing Our Ways which provided a national policy framework for the adoption and implementation by local authorities of strategic waste management plans under which specific national objectives and targets would be achieved. Specifically, Changing Our Ways set ambitious recycling targets to be achieved over a 15 year timescale, that is, by 2013, by the recycling of 35% of municipal waste and the recycling of at least 50% of construction and demolition, or C and D, waste by 2001, with a progressive increase to at least 85% by 2013.

Changing Our Ways also set a number of complementary targets, which are aimed at increasing recycling rates, to be achieved over the same timescale, including a diversion of 50% of household waste from landfill, a minimum 65% reduction in biodegradable waste consigned to landfill, and the development of composting and other biological treatment facilities capable of treating up to 300,000 tonnes of biodegradable waste per annum.

The three EPA reports mentioned indicate that significant progress has been made in the area of recycling generally in the period from 1998 to 2002, and that we are well on course to achieve the 2013 recycling targets set in 1998. All the indications are that the recycling position has improved even further since 2002 arising from the implementation of the local and regional waste management plans, as follows: the progressive roll-out of household segregation and separate collection of dry recyclables and organic waste in urban areas, from over 560,000 households, which is approximately 42% of all households nationally, are now served by segregated household collection of recyclables, while separate collection of organic wastes is already being provided to over 52,000 households with plans for further expansion in the near future; the continued expansion of the bring bank network, whereby over 1,800 bring banks are currently in place compared to around 1,400 in 2001 and 850 in 1998; and, the increased network of civic amenity recycling centres and waste transfer stations being progressively put in place, meaning that there are now 61 civic amenity sites or recycling sites around the country with more planned, accepting a wide range of materials for recycling.

In addition, new packaging regulations introduced last year requiring the segregation and recycling of specified back-door packaging waste by producers have influenced increased recycling rates in the commercial sector.

The expansion in the waste recycling infrastructure outlined has been assisted by significant funding provided to local authorities from the environment fund, which is financed by the proceeds generated by the landfill and plastic bag levies. In addition, an intensive waste awareness and communications campaign, Race Against Waste, was launched in October 2003 aimed at heightening awareness among businesses and householders alike of the need to increase recycling rates. This campaign is also being funded by the environment fund.

With a view to providing further impetus in this area, and further to specific commitments contained in the Delivering Change policy statement published in 2002, the following measures have also been, or are in the process of being, undertaken. A market development group was established earlier this year to assist and facilitate the development of a sustainable recycling sector, and to ensure that end markets exist for the materials which are collected for recycling. A draft national biodegradable waste strategy setting out a range of integrated measures aimed at providing an effective basis for the achievement of the 2013 biodegradable waste target was published earlier this year for public consultation. It is intended that this strategy will be finalised by the end of the year. It is intended to establish the proposed recycling consultative forum later this year to act as a consultative and advisory body on all aspects of recycling, and also to identify actions not yet being undertaken that have the potential to further stimulate and encourage recyling. An enhanced producer responsibility function has been established within the EPA to intensify enforcement of existing producer responsibility initiatives on packaging, farm plastics and C and D wastes, while further producer responsibility initiatives are proposed for end-of-life vehicles, waste electrical and electronic equipment, newsprint and tyres. A public service waste management programme is currently being prepared aimed at promoting the use of recycled and recyclable materials in public procurement contracts.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the extent to which packaging per unit of product has been reduced by manufacturers and retailers over the past five years; if he has new initiatives planned to encourage the reduction of packaging at source; and his plans to generate more accurate statistics in relation to packaging and packaging practices. [24082/04]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 347: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that the generalised levy imposed through the Repak arrangement is effective in encouraging individual firms to reduce, reuse and recycle; if he has reviewed the effectiveness of the Repak arrangement in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24083/04]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 and 347 together.

Article 18 of European Parliament and Council Directive 1994/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste prohibits member states from impeding the placing on the market of packaging which satisfies the provisions of the directive, that is, which is in accordance with the essential requirements specified in annex II of the directive as to the composition and the reusable and recoverable nature of packaging.

The principle of producer responsibility requires waste producers to contribute to the waste management costs of products which they have placed on the market at end of life. In support of this approach, a producer responsibility initiative already operates in Ireland in relation to packaging waste, underpinned by the Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations 2003 which replaced earlier regulations introduced in 1997. Under the regulations, producers are required to take steps to recover packaging waste or alternatively to contribute to, and participate in, compliance schemes set up to recover packaging waste. Repak Limited established by Irish industry in 1997 to promote, co-ordinate and finance the collection and recovery of packaging waste with a view to achieving Ireland's packaging waste recovery and recycling targets under European Parliament and Council Directive 1994/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, is the only such approved compliance scheme. While Repak's primary role is to support the recycling of packaging waste rather than packaging minimisation, the fees structure applicable to its members, which is related to the type and amount of packaging placed on the market, reflects the polluter pays principle and directly incentivises the minimisation and reuse of packaging by producers.

National waste statistics are collated and published by the EPA. The statistics do not provide any breakdown indicating changes in the amount of packaging per unit produced. In its 1998 national waste database report, the EPA estimated aggregate packaging generation at 682,688 tonnes. In October 2002, the EPA commissioned a consultancy study, which was jointly funded by my Department and Repak, to review its methodology in measuring packaging waste arisings. The study, which was undertaken by Perchards, London and Ffact Management Consultants, the Netherlands, was completed in February 2004. Reflecting economic growth and increasing consumption patterns in the interim periods concerned, and allowing for certain adjustments arising from the consultant's report, packaging generation is estimated to have increased to 820,320 tonnes in 2001 and to 849,570 tonnes in 2002.

Notwithstanding this upward trend in packaging generation, I share the question's concerns with regard to the over-packaging of certain goods. Excessive packaging is generated through a combination of poor packaging design, inefficient production or manufacturing processes, and unsustainable consumption patterns, for example, by purchasing excessively packaged products. Taking action to prevent waste being generated in the first place is fundamental to the overriding objective of decoupling economic growth from growth in waste arisings. However, Ireland is particularly disadvantaged in relation to the prevention and minimisation of packaging in that approximately 75% of the packaging placed on the market here is imported in association with imported goods.

Despite the in-built incentive favouring waste prevention under the existing Repak scheme, greater efforts still need to be made by producers generally in reducing the amounts of unnecessary over-packaging of products placed on the market. Consumers also have a critical role in this regard by favouring products with less packaging. This message is being actively promoted in the Race Against Waste campaign.

As undertaken in An Agreed Programme for Government and in my Department's 2002 policy document, Delivering Change, a National Waste Prevention Programme, co-ordinated by the EPA and with funding support from the environment fund, was launched earlier this year. It is intended that this programme will assist in delivering substantial results on waste prevention and minimisation across all waste streams, including packaging, in the years ahead.