Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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40. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if specific targets will be set for aluminium cans as well as for polyethylene terephthalate bottles; if the targets shall be the same; and if he plans that the charges set for different types of item will be set to avoid cross subsidisation between lines in respect of the costs of recovery and onward uses. [6859/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Last year, I signed the Separate Collection (Deposit Return Scheme) Regulations 2021, providing the legal framework for a national deposit return scheme. The Regulations require that the approved body who will operate the scheme, must achieve separate collection rates for recycling of in-scope bottles in accordance with Directive 2019/904/EC on the reduction of the impact of certain plastics on the environment and also achieve EU recycling targets for in-scope containers, or aluminium or steel beverage containers.

By 2025, Ireland must ensure the separate collection of 77% of plastic beverage bottles placed on the market (by weight), rising to 90% by 2029. In the case of aluminium, the current EU recycling target is set at 50% by 2025 and rises to 60% by 2030. While Ireland’s recycling rate of 54% currently surpasses the EU recycling target, we will need to improve our performance further. I expect the deposit return scheme to contribute significantly to target attainment for both material streams.

In advance of the introduction of the Scheme later this year, I will introduce Regulations to establish, among other things, the level of deposit for the materials to be collected.