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IRELAND CONTINUES TO generate significant amounts of waste, amounting to 14 million tonnes in 2018, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
In particular, municipal waste, from household and commercial sources, amounted to 2.9 million tonnes, up 3.5% on 2017. The EPA said this waste is closely linked to high consumption levels as well as ‘single-use and throwaway culture’.
While Ireland achieved high recycling rates in some material streams, such as glass and paper or cardboard packaging, the figures reveal some worrying trends.
Ireland’s recycling rate for municipal waste has decreased to 38% in 2018, having remained stagnant at 40% since 2014. Recycling of packaging waste has declined from 70% in 2013 to 64% in 2018.
The EPA said Ireland also continues to have some significant waste infrastructure deficits and relies on export for a number of key waste streams, including packaging and hazardous waste.
Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the EPA’s office of environmental sustainability, said these figures indicate that “we are going in the wrong direction across a number of indicators, such as falling recycling levels”.
“To get the most from our resources, we need to prevent waste and break the link between economic growth and waste generation.
“We also need to significantly increase our recycling rates to ensure that Ireland meets ambitious new EU targets in the coming years. Measures that promote better segregation of waste and also expand the range of materials that can be recycled in Ireland will be key to this.”
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The onus for change is on the companies that produce and market products to us in disposable packaging. When recycling first came to Ireland, recyclable packaging used to be clearly labelled as “Recyclable”
Now every time I check a container or a piece of plastic it says “May or may not be recyclable”
This is Grade A b0ll0x. The item should be recyclabel or not. Better yetn there should be legislation that forces manufacturers to employ recyclable materials.
Literally nothing with any lasting effect is being done
@Cocker: ahahaha – I couldn’t agree more. The amount of times I check something and it says to check with my local center to determine if it can be recycled is just silly. Either Yes or No would be most helpful.
@Cocker: well said
@Cocker: fully agree.
@Cocker: it nearly takes a degree in chemistry to work out what is and is not recycled. Basically because the companies have been able to choose what they recycle, Most material is re-recyclable but the process may not be supported by our recycling companies, that is why the “may” or “may not” appears on packaging… part of this is the cost, but I am a firm believer that the cost should be included in the purchase price , like with batteries and electrical goods, so the green bin should be “free” once it only contains prepaid recycling material. So pay an extra 2 cent for the carrots in the bag and recycle the bag for “free”. It has always amazed me that we have to pay to do the right thing when it comes to waste disposal.
@Cocker: The problem is the recycling centres all have different recycling capabilities. Recycling is way overrated given how much actually gets recycled. If you really want to help the environment reduce your usage
One thing that’s happening now (admittedly to curb the spread of disease) is that everything is back to disposable and single use. Nowhere taking keep cups now and everywhere giving you single use plates and cutlery, often wrapped in plastic.
@robin amaro: also the recommended use of individually wrapped straws in pubs etc. Could have used the opportunity to simply ban straws where not essential
@Anne Marie Devlin: they can be wrapped in paper, is that really a big deal?
@A d d y o u r n a m e: paper has to be manufactured and disposed of/recycled. I would imagine that most of the paper wrappers will end up on the floor as litter and thrown in general waste. We should be focusing on reducing and reusing. However, recycling is a huge industry hence the emphasis
@A d d y o u r n a m e: straws are still a waste.
If you want a straw buy a metal one and bring it with you, otherwise plastic straws should banned outright.
@Barry: some metal straws are dangerous and some have injured and killed people – ideal for a packed drunken bar scene? I think not. Nothing has easy solutions I hasten to add, but I would be concerned to see people use a metal straw as they do plastic ones.
@Niall Ó Cofaigh: so no metal straws.. right.
Where do you stand on metal cutlery?
@john doe: Do you carry around metal cutlery in your pocket?
The recycling industry is worth 265 billion dollars worldwide. Yet we’re charged by bin companies to life the recycling bin?. Not only that, but we’re also are asked to pre-process before we put stuff into the bin. If not, it goes to landfill. So to sum up. Where charged by the bin company to pick a bin that has already been processed. I’m so glad the water charges have not been introduced. Part of processing it’s to clean the recyclables.
@Thomas: Is there any published breakdown of where Irish recycling waste actually goes and if it’s even recycled? Why should we clean and separate waste if it goes straight to incinerator?
@Cian Martin: but were paying the bin company for what?. If we’re doing all of the processing.
@Thomas: I agree 100% on recycling… we had a water shortage not too long ago but every bottle and can and tin and plastic had to be food clean. I have wondered about the cost to produce the 1 litre of hot water needed to clean a bean or spagetti tin or glass bottle of pasta sauce – all of which should be done before recycling.
I also wonder if I clean my recyclables and my neighbour does not, is that entire lorry load of recyclable material now contaminated wasting me hot water and defeating the purpose?
Maybe it is time the consumer was paid for proper recyclable material as well as compost material, and that the cleaning was done in bulk, and we had to pay a lot for the black bin stuff – would that make sense?
The old story of “it costs too much to recycle” – look at the cost to recycle a double bed and mattress – 45 to 90 euro collected.. recycling should be FREE or collected at point of sale just like batteries and other good – or even with a refund premium like we used to get on lemonade and milk bottles.
@Thomas: yes you should split things and it doesn’t take long. Also you can pay them to take it or pay fuel cost and drive to your local recycling centre.
@Cian Martin: a lot goes to the likes of Bangladesh, Indonesia and China but china said no more to EU waste same with Indonesia. You can find the info if you use the site available to all us called Google.
@Niall Ó Cofaigh: I know I’m done countries you don’t have to wash recyclables, the recycling companies do it themselves. I would imagine a lot less water gets used that way. I also read that only 10% of plastic that gets sent for recycling is actually recycled, because it’s so expensive.
My bin company take basically nothing besides cardboard and cans. Everything I buy, whether from shops or online, comes covered in soft plastic that isn’t recyclable, so it goes in the black bin. Manufacturers need to come up with more recyclable packaging!
@A d d y o u r n a m e: yes the soft plastic going into the rubbish really annoys me. Either make it so we can recycle it or change the material they use. We need laws to force companies to do it because most won’t on their own.
What do they expect when everything is wrapped in plastic, only half of which is recyclable!? There are plenty of items where the plastic in the tray can be recycled but the outer plastic packaging can’t. Then you’re fined for putting things in the green bin that are recyclable but not acceptable. As usual there is too much bureaucracy which makes the process a hassle.
Adopt Germanys plastic bottle policy for unstance. Render all nonrecyclable plastic packaging illegal for unstance. Place a 1000% tax on cheap polyester clothes from penny’s that are wear once throwaway crap for instance.
make it harder and harder to recycle and watch the rates fall anyone surprised ?
In another few years we will see pictures of sea turtles with disposable masks around their necks.
Masks everywhere especially around retail outlets since they became mandatory.
@ed o brien: theres already pictures circulating of birds with elastic from masks wrapped around their beaks. People need to remove the elastics when disposing of masks!
Who fupping cares, it all ends up being burnt anyway. Ireland recycles more waste than most European countries. This unelected heifer needs to get off that pedestal.
@PeeedOff: who is burning glass?
@PeeedOff: Source for your claim it is all just burnt please.
@PeeedOff: no it doesn’t, lots sent to Asian countries are being used to make furniture like chairs and desks and other stuff for poor schools. Google upcycling.
@Craic_a_tower: How do you think they melt it down to extrude into new glass objects, apply heat and burn baby burn.
Too difficult enforce, by law, compulsory recyclable packages to the producers?
Especially used disposable masks littering the streets and shopping center car parks its disgusting
People need to know what can be recycled.
Different bin companies have different guidelines. I think this is what’s leading to this plus bin charges should change as in the more you recycle the less your bin charges should be.
It doesn’t help that our local council recycling centre in Dublin doesn’t allow us to recycle soft plastic which most items come in these days. Stop giving out about low recycling and give us the option to recycle everything possible.
@Marcus: exactly, wicklow the same whereas enniscorthy took all soft plastic
I would think it is more to do with compostable and reusable items, as a pose to more being thrown out, covid will have increased general waste as single use face masks and wipes are being used massively.
This Virus has caused many millions of tonnes of plastic waste PPE masks gloves aprons handwadh bottles etc some is recyclable but very little. Its just thw way it is and another casualty of the reckless and wilful actions of a regime we are not allowed to mention. Least of our current troubles really.
Talk to China, India, Nigeria etc, not us
@Pat Andrews: china? Up until recently they took our waste and used it. The EU and USA are the biggest polluters.
Disrespect Some people dump hide cos cant afford rip off
Let’s start with liquids….only glass bottles.
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