Skip to main content

New Regulations To Improve National Packaging Waste Recycling Performance

20/12/07

“Prevention is the key to future progress” - Gormley 

Minister Renews Repak Approval

  • Minister signs new consolidated Packaging Regulations to support the achievement of Ireland’s EU-set 2011 targets for packaging waste recovery and recycling.
  • More producers to be required to fund recycling
  • Minister closes loophole on take back obligations
  • Repak (the packaging waste recycling organisation) approval renewed by Minister; approval to run to end 2011.
  • EU targets for recovery and recycling set to be exceeded but progress needed on prevention and litter reduction.
  • Minister issues challenges to industry pending review of policy on deposit and refund.


“Recycling rates for packaging have soared over the past decade.   I am confident that we can build on the progress made through achieving higher recycling rates, but we also need to tackle the high levels of packaging waste being generated and deal effectively with litter from packaging, such as cans and bottles”, so said Mr. John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government today (20 December 07).

Speaking at the launch of the Repak’s Green Christmas recycling campaign, supported by his Department under the Race Against Waste campaign, and a new carbon calculator devised by Repak, the Minister announced that he had recently signed the Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations 2007. The Minister also announced that he was extending Repak’s approval under the Regulations to the end of 2011.

“The recycling phenomenon in Ireland has been ably supported by industry and local authorities.  Repak, the packaging waste producer responsibility scheme, is an excellent example of the polluter pays principle in action.  I am pleased to announce that I am renewing Repak’s approval today under the new Regulations and look forward to the scheme continuing to support progress on packaging waste in the years ahead. I am anxious that more producers of significant amounts of packaging pay their way. Under the Regulations which I have signed  I am satisfied that I have achieved that objective.

New Regulations
Under the new consolidated Regulations, producers, i.e. those who place packaging on the market in Ireland, are required to take back packaging, and achieve targets for recovering and recycling that waste, or else join an approved scheme established to support packaging waste recovery and recycling.  Currently, Repak is the only such scheme and is charged with achieving national targets for packaging waste recovery and recycling. 

The Regulations consolidate the existing suite of regulations and introduce a range of new measures that will bring further improvements to arrangements for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste in Ireland.  The provisions of the Regulations are summarised in the attached appendix and the new producer responsibility requirements come into effect from 31 March 2008.  The amendments to the Packaging Regulations are based on unanimous recommendations made by the National Strategy Group on Packaging Waste Recycling, comprised of the key public and private sector stakeholders.    

Review\Challenge to industry
“Recovery and recycling rates have reached very high levels by European standards – by 2005 recovery of packaging waste was close to 60% compared with just 15% a decade ago”, the Minister noted. “We are exceeding EU targets in this area and I predict that this trend will continue into the future but we need to do more.  I am concerned that we should tackle the amount of packaging placed on the market and I have recently challenged the retail sector to look at voluntary measures, similar to those already being put in place by many chains in the UK, to reduce the amount of packaging on shelves in supermarkets.  I believe that will be good for everybody – good for business, good for consumers and good for the environment”.

The Minister also spoke of the need to tackle litter from packaging.  “Discarded cans and bottles are an ongoing problem and we need to look at all options for tackling this problem.  I am undertaking a major review of waste policy in the months ahead and as part of that process, we will see whether a refundable deposit for bottles, cans and other drinks containers would bring a net benefit to the litter reduction and recycling arrangements already in place in this country.  In the meantime I have asked industry to develop voluntary initiatives to reduce litter from packaging”.

Conclusion
“I am confident that these new Regulations provide the platform for achieving even higher packaging waste recovery and recycling rates in the years ahead.  With everyone’s continued support – including the great recycling effort being made by householders up and down the country – we can achieve results in packaging waste that will put Ireland to the forefront of best practice internationally.  I look forward to working with all the stakeholders over the next few years to turn that vision into a reality”, the Minister concluded.

ENDS

Media queries:
Press and Information Office
Tel: (01) 888 2638  (direct)
(01) 888 2000
E-Mail: press-office@environ.ie
Web site: www.environ.ie

Back

  • Print this page

Publications & Documents

News and Speeches

Legislation