John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 470: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether there is a need to improve the reduce, reuse and recycle culture here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15360/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Continual improvements in levels of recycling are being achieved. About 28% of municipal waste is now being diverted from landfill, which is a substantial improvement on the situation in 2001 when the recycling rate stood at under 10%. Kerbside collection has a key part to play in this, but I also remain committed to enhancing the network of bring centres and civic amenity sites, which often accept materials that cannot be put in a green bin and which all householders can use.

I welcome that the number of households in receipt of kerbside collection of recyclables has increased from 70,000 in 1998 to more than 550,000, representing some 42% of all households. In addition, separate collection of organic waste is available in some areas and roll-out is planned for more. This collection service is in addition to the network of more than 1,800 bring banks, an increase of almost 1,000 since 1998, and the some 60 civic amenity sites.

This progress reflects the Government's overall integrated approach to waste management 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. Maximising how we all reduce, reuse, recycle has been the keystone of Government's waste management policy since the publication of Changing our Ways in 1998, which set out ambitious recycling and recovery targets over a 15-year period, including recycling of 35% of municipal waste; recycling of at least 50% of construction and demolition waste by 2001, a target which was exceeded according to Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, estimates, with a progressive increase to at least 85% by 2013; a diversion of 50% of household waste from landfill; and a minimum 65% reduction in biodegradable waste consigned to landfill.

Through the Race Against Waste campaign, public awareness of the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling has also increased, as illustrated by the 25% increase between 2002 and 2003 in the volume of materials being brought to bring and civic amenity facilities. In this context, I urge collection service providers to ensure that demand for household collection of recyclables is responded to and, to the greatest extent possible, met.