Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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203. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he has taken to improve access to proper textile and clothing recycling and disposal for consumers in view of the growth in popularity of disposable clothing; the options open to persons that wish to safely recycle textiles and clothing; the steps he will take to draw the attention of persons to the dangers of the disposal of textiles and clothing with general waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48429/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Textiles and clothing are valuable commodities and I recognise the importance of ensuring that this value is preserved for the benefit of our economy and our communities.  These materials provide an excellent basis for demonstrating the purpose, benefit and potential of a circular economy. My Department supports a number of measures in this area.

Since 2004, funding has been provided to the EPA to manage Ireland’s National Waste Prevention Programme (NWPP) which includes: 

- Funding the Community Reuse Network of Ireland. In 2016, Irish charity shops diverted approximately 22,100 tonnes of textiles from landfill; 50% was reused in charity shops; over 30% was sold to textile merchants and the balance was repurposed as industrial fabrics.

- A Reuse Quality Mark pilot project.

- Funding research into mattress recycling. 

- Funding the EPA's ‘Material Reuse Good Practice Guide’ published this year. 

In addition, there 3 waste prevention officers within the regional waste planning authorities who oversee a range of prevention initiatives such as October Reuse Month and the forthcoming Recycling Ambassadors Programme.  The Ambassadors Programme will be running more than 600 workshops with communities to help people manage and reduce all waste and waste costs.

Today, Ireland has over 2,200 bring banks and 100 civic amenity sites, many of which include facilities for textile and clothing donation. The capital development of these sites over past decades was supported at an investment of €200 million.

Finally, the removal of the flat fee for household waste is expected to encourage householders to reuse or recycle textiles through more appropriate channels.  The landfill levy of €75 per tonne of waste landfilled continues to provide further incentive for recycling and reuse of these materials.