John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide a detailed report of the way in which each local authority is performing in relation to recycling levels. [30790/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The detailed information sought is not available in my Department. National waste statistics for all waste streams are published at three-yearly intervals by the Environmental Protection Agency with the most recent national waste database report being in respect of 2001. In the intervening period, two further interim reports have been published to provide data on municipal waste specifically, that is, household and commercial waste, for the years 2002 and 2003, respectively. While the database reports do not provide recycling rates for individual local authorities, an overall recycling figure for Ireland is provided for in respect of a number of waste streams.

The latest figures available on municipal waste generation, recovery and disposal are contained in the national waste database interim report for 2003, published by the agency in December 2004, which reports that the recycling rate in the municipal waste stream has advanced to 28.4% in 2003, up from 20.7% in 2002. I understand that the agency is currently compiling its database for 2004 which will be finalised by end 2005.