Written answers

Thursday, 29 April 2021

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Recycling Policy

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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7. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he plans to extend the recycling list to include soft plastics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22426/21]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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8. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he plans to set targets for waste reduction, for reuse of product and for an obligation to incorporate recycled material with virgin raw material in key processes; and the range within which these targets are likely to fall. [22427/21]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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9. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the actions within the waste strategy which will be delivered in the remainder of 2021 and in 2022. [22429/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 8 and 9 together.

The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (WAPCE), Ireland's National Waste Policy 2020-2025, which I launched in September 2020, commits to developing a Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy containing targets for reuse, repair and resource consumption. Pre-draft consultation has opened on this Plan, which is due to be introduced by Q1 next year. 

In addition to this measure, the WAPCE contains some 200 measures which will be delivered on a phased basis over the 5 year lifetime of the Plan. Implementation of the WAPCE is now underway, including through extensive engagement with key stakeholders. To date significant progress has been made on a number of measures, including;

- The publication of a draft Circular Economy Strategy and the opening of a public consultation which can be accessed at ,

- Establishment of a Working Group to examine national end-of-waste applications,

- The legislative framework for a Deposit Return Scheme for plastic and aluminium beverage containers up to 3 litres will be in place in Q3 2021 and the scheme will be introduced in Q3 2022,

- The recent publication of draft Best Practice Guidelines for the Preparation of Resource Management Plans for Construction and Demolition Projects,

- The introduction of modulated fees for plastic packaging in 2021 and the inclusion of a number of measures from the Waste Action Plan relating to Enhanced Producer Responsibility (EPR) in new Ministerial approvals for two  of the national EPR schemes with the remaining four due to be similarly amended as they fall for re-approval ahead of H1 2022,

- Activity is also currently underway that is supporting food waste prevention and recycling actions, awareness raising campaigns, and in the area of waste data and data flows.

Work is also ongoing on the preparation of a new National Waste Management Plan to replace the existing three Regional Plans. This Plan will contain, inter alia, targets for repair, targets for reuse and targets for reducing resource consumption and contamination. My Department is also well advanced with work extending the recycling list to incorporate soft plastics, and I look forward to making an announcement in relation to this in due course.

I am confident that this significant level of progress will continue to be delivered by my Department ensuring that the measures outlined in the Waste Action Plan will be successfully delivered within the lifetime of the Plan.

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