Ireland surpassed all of its EU recycling and recovery targets in 2019, achieving a total provisional forecast recovery rate of 96% and a recycling rate of 67.5%, new research showed.
According to a recently published report by Repak Ireland, named ‘Backing our Future,’ plastic recycling rates came in at 35%, despite the fact that the given EU target was 22.5%.
Paper reached 82%, which exceeded its EU target of 60%.
Other highlights include glass 78% (EU target 60%), metal 85% (EU target 50%) and wood 81% (EU target 15%).
“2019 was once again a strong year for Repak as we delivered for members on all key compliance objectives and surpassed all EU packaging recycling targets," said Séamus Clancy, CEO of Repak.
Recycling and Recovery in 2019
In 2019, the total amount of Repak funded material recovered and recycled in Ireland reached the one million mark for the first time, the group said.
A total of 1,008,130 tonnes of packaging waste placed on the Irish market was recovered and recycled, 103,881 tonnes more than the 2018 (11.5%) increase, it added.
Clancy noted: "Ireland is continuing to incrementally grow its recycling rates across all materials, the importance of which cannot be understated. In particular, the increase in plastic recycling by 2% to 35% this year leaves us firmly on track to achieve our 2025 and 2030 EU recycling targets.”
Looking Ahead
Next week, Repak said that it will launch the 2019 progress report for its Plastic Pledge initiative, which will 'highlight the continued proactive approach that 115 of Ireland’s industry leaders are taking to remove avoidable plastics from their business premises and from sale.'
“There are significant challenges ahead of us as new EU recycling and sustainability policy begins to take affect and the deadlines for our recycling targets draw closer," said Clancy.
He said that facing these challenges requires Repak to manage the cost and reporting burden on behalf of its members. "Our new licence application, which is currently being prepared for submission by 30 June 2020, strategically reflects how future packaging recycling targets, and plastic in particular, can be achieved in Members' best interest," he added.
© 2020 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
