Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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184. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which the national waste management plan continues to address the relevant issues with particular reference to reduction, reuse and recycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29804/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Ireland is achieving or is on course to achieve all our EU waste targets. For example:- Our landfill rate for municipal waste was just 14% in 2018, representing a significant reduction from the 2017 figure of 23% and continuing the ongoing welcome decline from the 62% recorded for 2008.

- 43% of municipal waste was incinerated for energy recovery in 2018, significantly higher than the 32% recorded for 2017.

- Just 7% of municipal waste was incinerated as recently as 2012.

- Significantly more residual waste is now used as a fuel (energy recovery) than disposed to landfill.

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The Government wants to build on this strong performance. Minister Ryan launched a Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy in September 2020.This represents a step change in our approach to waste in Ireland, as it shifts the focus away from management to a fuller reconsideration of how we use resources and materials.  The measures in the Plan are intended to minimise the amount of waste generated, eliminating waste before it can be created and diverting as much as possible to beneficial reuse or recovery and will help us deliver on our national targets.