Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether the Government should spearhead moves at EU level to reduce packaging waste in view of the amount of such waste that comes from goods produced abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7389/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is currently participating in, and will continue to contribute proactively to, discussions at EU level on a new Waste Framework Directive, which will include provisions in relation to waste prevention across all waste streams. It is likely that legislation will be required to transpose the new waste framework directive into Irish law once agreement has been reached by Member States and it has come into effect.

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Waste Report 2005, which was published in January 2007, reported that 925,221 tonnes of packaging waste was generated in that year, up from 850,911 tonnes in 2004 and from 819,863 tonnes in 2003. While the evidence is that the trend over the period 2003-2005 in the production of packaging waste was upwards, there has also been a rapid increase in the population of this country, coupled with unprecedented economic growth and a significant rise in single person household occupancy. All of these are contributory factors towards the recent growth in packaging waste arisings.

There are positive trends, however: Ireland has enjoyed considerable success in recent years in meeting targets for the recovery and recycling of this significant waste stream. Data from the EPA shows that the 25% recovery target for 2001 set under Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste was achieved and also that, with 59.9% recycling of packaging waste in 2005, Ireland has not only exceeded the 2005 recovery target of 50% set under the Directive but reached the 60% target required by end 2011, a full six years ahead of schedule.

It is important to appreciate that Ireland's recycling rate for packaging waste now compares favourably with many EU countries who have long been regarded as leaders in environmental protection. As the following table shows Ireland is in sixth place amongst EU Member States in 2004, finishing higher than countries like Sweden, France, Denmark and Finland. It must also be borne in mind that the countries which have higher recovery rates than Ireland have, in general, achieved this through thermal treatment with energy recovery, an option not yet available in Ireland.

Despite these positive trends, I acknowledge that we must further reduce our reliance on landfill. I am pleased therefore that the National Strategy Group on Packaging Waste Recycling, which comprises key public / private stakeholders such as Repak, IBEC, producers, waste collectors, reprocessors, local authorities the EPA and my Department, is currently developing a five-year strategy to achieve new higher targets for recovering and recycling packaging waste. I have made it clear that prevention and minimisation measures must be at the heart of that strategy.

On foot of recommendations from the Packaging Waste Strategy Group, I have recently forwarded new draft packaging regulations to the EU Commission which aim to bring greater clarity, transparency and accessibility to the packaging waste regulatory regime. The draft regulations also introduce a range of integrated measures aimed at optimising the recovery and recycling of packaging waste in Ireland. In the light of the proposed changes to the existing regulatory regime and the success achieved to date in meeting and exceeding targets for the recovering and recycling packaging waste, I am confident that with the continued support of stakeholders, particularly householders, that these draft Regulations will allow Ireland to maintain and improve its position among the high performing countries in Europe.