Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the percentage and volume of recycled cardboard and plastic waste that is shipped from Ireland to China on an annual basis; his plans on whether a closer or indigenous solution to the recycling of these materials would be preferable; and the efforts he is making to explore this option. [22494/06]

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, the general situation in Ireland is that we rely significantly on foreign based materials recycling infrastructure, which dealt with 73.8% of recycled waste in 2004. Europe accounts for almost 92% of all recyclable waste exported from Ireland for further treatment with the remaining 8% exported to the Asian continent for reprocessing. In 2004, of the 375,597 tonnes of paper and cardboard recovered, 18,358 tonnes, or 4.9%, was exported to China while 118,358 tonnes, or 31.5%, was recycled in Ireland. Of the 55,904 tonnes of plastic recovered in the same year, 7,100 tonnes, or 12.7%, was exported to China while 8,718 tonnes, or 15.6%, was recycled in Ireland.

While there has been recent progress in the provision of more infrastructure within Ireland to process materials recovered for recycling, for example, in the development of new facilities to process waste electrical and electronic equipment, 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.

While international trade in waste is consistent with Government policy insofar as it supports improved performance in recycling, the Government also recognises the value of developing markets for recyclates in Ireland. To this end, a Market Development Group was established in 2004 and has been working on the development of a National Market Development Programme. The implementation of the Programme will play an important role in achieving targets for further progress in the recovery and recycling of paper and cardboard as set out in the National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste from the 2004 level of just under 46% to 67% by 2016. Sub-committees have been established by the Market Development Group to deal specifically with market development for both recovered paper waste and for plastics. It is intended to publish the National Market Development Programme later this year.

My Department has also been working with the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland with a view to developing all-island market development strategies. Both Departments have co-funded an all-island paper mill study which has been completed and will be published shortly. The outcome of this study will inform future policy and make an important contribution to the knowledge base in relation to the consumption and demand of paper products within Ireland, as well as the sources, volumes and market potential of recovered paper.