Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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107. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking in response to the finding in the EPA report Packing Waste in Ireland in 2019 that Ireland has had a gradual fall in packaging recycling rates in recent years from 70% in 2013 to 64% in 2018 and 62% in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44591/21]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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115. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking in response to the finding in the EPA report Packing Waste in Ireland in 2019 that Ireland has had a gradual fall in packaging recycling rates in recent years from 70% in 2013 to 64% in 2018 and 62% in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44897/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 115 together.107 and 115 together

The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, which was published in September 2020, details a range of measures that will be adopted to achieve optimum results in the area of plastics and packaging over the coming years. The over-riding objective is to ensure that all packaging placed on the Irish market is reusable or recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030.

The announcement on 6th September that soft plastics can now be disposed of in the domestic recycling bin is one example of the  very significant steps Ireland is taking to increase recycling rates while also helping to reach EU recycling targets.

Other measures contained in the Plan include:

- The introduction of eco modulated fees whereby producers’ fees will reduce in line with the recycling content of their packaging products;  

- A ban from the 3^rdJuly this year on a range of single-use plastic items;

- The introduction next year of a deposit and refund scheme on plastic beverage bottles and aluminium cans; 

- An environmentally ambitious approach to the European Commission’s review of the essential requirements for packaging reduction- with proposals due by the end of this year; and

- A commitment to drive higher levels of segregation and to support investment in treatment capacity.