Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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199. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps that are being taken to address the growing issue of textile waste in Ireland; and the further steps that are being taken to reduce the level of over consumption and promote recycling and upcycling of clothing. [13689/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is engaged on a number of initiatives to reduce and tackle textile waste. The separate collection of textiles is essential to maximise opportunities for reuse and supporting our transition to a circular economy. Currently, our separate collection system for textiles consists of a national network of local authority and charity bring banks, charity retail shops as well as some private bring banks. There are also a number of retailers who have take-back schemes in operation.

The current system requires substantial enhancement to ensure the treatment of textiles aligns with the waste hierarchy and circular economy principles. My Department is developing our first National Policy Statement and Roadmap on Circular Textiles with input from the EPA, local government and the Textiles Advisory Group. This document will set out steps required to enhance our separate collection system and I look forward to launching the draft document for public consultation in the coming weeks.

At EU level, the European Commission's legislative proposal to revise the Waste Framework Directive includes the introduction of a mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for textiles. The key objective of the proposed EPR scheme is to apply the 'polluter pays principle' while creating a more robust economy for textile collection, sorting, reuse and recycling.

This proposal has progressed to the final stage of negotiation between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU and is expected to be adopted in the first half of 2025. An EPR scheme for textiles is expected to become mandatory by 2027. My Department has already started the foundational work with the sector for an Irish EPR scheme.