Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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1282. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has satisfied himself with the amount of waste material that is recycled here in view of recent announcements that certain types of materials that are widely recycled elsewhere, such as soft plastic bags and film packaging, will not be accepted. [1041/18]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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1283. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce additional measures or investment to increase the types of material that Ireland's recycling system can process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1042/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1282 and 1283 together.

Under the EU Packaging Directive, at least 60% of Ireland’s packaging waste must be recovered and 55% must be recycled. Ireland has met and exceeded the overall packaging waste recovery rate and the recycling rate targets since they came into force. The most recent Waste Packaging Statistics for Ireland, published by the EPA in May 2016, show that Ireland’s recovery rate has gone from 70% in 2009 to 88% in 2013; and Ireland’s recycling rate has gone from 65% in 2009 to 70% in 2013.

My role as Minister is to provide a comprehensive legislative and waste policy framework to ensure that, inter alia,  waste is managed in line with the waste hierarchy, whereby the prevention, preparing for reuse, recycling and recovery of waste are prioritised over the landfill of waste.

The collection and processing of waste, including recyclable waste, is largely undertaken by the private sector.  Up until last year, different collectors accepted different items for recycling, which lead to some confusion on which items go in which bin. Now however, following co-operation between my Department, the regulatory authorities, the waste industry, Repak and environmental NGOs, we have a single, standard national list of items and materials that can be placed in the recycle bin.  Removing confusion will play a huge role in improving the quality of the material presented for recycling. This will help to ensure that these items are actually recycled, as opposed to being contaminated accidentally by householders and sent to landfill.

Supporting householders to 'do the right thing' in terms of recycling is important. In addition to simplifying the household recycle bin, this is also being achieved though awareness and education initiatives such as the Recycling Ambassadors Programme and recyclinglistireland.ie. These measures will reduce contamination rates and ensure higher quality recycling, reduce our impact on the environment and leave Ireland in a more competitive position in terms of securing markets for our recyclate.

Notwithstanding the above, recycling in Ireland and indeed across the world is evolving. The finalisation of the Circular Economy package and the Strategy on Plastics at EU level in the coming weeks, as well as our ambitious national waste policy which aims to prevent and recycle more waste, means that all matters recycling related, including the 'recycling list', will be kept under review in conjunction with the key stakeholders.