Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the items which are recycled here; the items which are exported for recycling and to where; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8300/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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National waste statistics for all waste streams are published at three-yearly intervals by the Environmental Protection Agency with the most recent national waste report being in respect of 2004. As outlined in successive national waste reports, we are substantially reliant on foreign-based materials recycling infrastructure, which dealt with 73.8% of recycled waste in 2004.

The export of waste is regulated by local authorities, in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No. 259/93 of 1 February 1993 on the supervision and control of waste within, into and out of, the European Community. In this context, it should be noted that clean segregated materials are a sought after resource which are freely traded under EU and international law. This is supported by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, Decision of C(92)39 Final on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Wastes Destined for Recovery Operations which notes that the recovery of valuable materials and energy from wastes is an integral part of the international economic system and that well established markets exist for, and can contribute to, the collection and processing of such materials within OECD member countries.

The following table sets out the tonnage of non-notified waste recycled aboard and waste recycled, not including imports, in Ireland during 2004:

Spain and the UK are the principal destinations for recyclables exported from Ireland for subsequent reprocessing, accounting for some 82% of total exports in this area. Europe as a whole accounts for almost 92% of all recyclable waste exported from Ireland for further treatment with the remaining 8% exported for reprocessing to the Asian continent, with China being the principal recipient.

While international trade in waste is consistent with Government policy in so far as it supports improved performance in recycling, the Government also recognises the value of a more developed recycling infrastructure in Ireland. To this effect, a market development group was established by Government in 2004 with a view to identifying market opportunities for materials recovered for recycling. A market development programme will be developed by the group in 2006.