rubbish

 

Ireland’s recycling rate has remained stagnant over the past decade, despite a more than 20% increase in waste generation during the same period.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ireland is now “almost certain” to miss the European Union’s 2025 municipal and packaging recycling targets.

The EPA’s Circular Economy and Waste Statistics Highlights Report 2022 revealed that half of Ireland’s waste comes from the construction industry.

David Flynn, Director of the EPA, said the report showed progress towards a circular economy, where materials are kept in use for as long as possible through reuse, repair and repurposing before recycling, had stalled.

“Current measures to prevent waste, to promote reuse and to encourage recycling are not enough to meet mandatory municipal waste and plastic packaging targets.

“The challenge for Ireland is to reverse these trends and significantly reduce waste production and increase reuse and recycling.

“Strong implementation of existing policies and the introduction of new measures that support investment in new circular economy infrastructure will help move us away from a wasteful linear economy.”

While the reuse and recovery rate in this sector is high at 82%, driven largely by backfilling and land restoration, overall recycling performance remains underwhelming.

Municipal waste recycling has plateaued at 41%, well below the required 55% target for 2025.

Ireland’s waste management system is described as “vulnerable and underperforming,” with 38% (1.2 million tonnes) of municipal waste exported for treatment. This reliance on external processing underscores the need for improved domestic waste management infrastructure.

David Flynn, Director of the EPA, emphasised that progress towards a circular economy—focused on maximising material reuse, repair, and repurposing—has stalled. Efforts to create a sustainable waste management system must be accelerated to meet EU goals.

“Deeper change is needed right across the economy to accelerate the transition to a more circular economy,” said Warren Phelan.

“Effective regulation, incentives and enforcement are required to influence businesses and consumers to adopt best practices in production, supply, purchasing, use and reuse of goods, products and services.”

In contrast, Northern Ireland reported a recycling rate of 49.7% for 2022/23. Consultations aimed at improving Ireland’s recycling rates through changes in waste collection systems are expected to yield recommendations in the coming year.

Without significant changes, Ireland risks falling further behind its European counterparts in sustainable waste management and circular economy initiatives.

 

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