Talk the talk

Darrell Crowe, marketing manager with recycling scheme operator Repak, talks to David Clerkin.

Please tell us a little about where Repak came from?

Repak is a voluntary, industry-funded scheme for recycling used packaging.

It was set up by the government and IBEC as an initiative to help industry here meet targets set out under EU directives on waste.

Ireland needed to recycle 25% of all used packaging by 2001 and we must reach a target of 50% by 2005.

We're currently recycling some 47% of all used packaging.

How have recycling patterns changed since Repak was set up?

We met our 2001 target. In 1998, Irish industry was recycling less than 100,000 tonnes of packaging.

That rose to 414,000 tonnes in 2003 and was a 25% increase on the previous year.

Repak supports recycling through the use of subsidies.

We spent over €15 million on these last year.

Our funding comes from a charge on our members that's based on the type of packaging they put on the market (such as whether it's in the form of plastic or glass).

What's the attitude of Irish business towards generating too much packaging?

We've 2,000 members and that number is growing all the time.

But we have a problem with so-called “free riders” - these are businesses that aren't members of the Repak scheme, but still have an obligation under the law to recycle a minimum level of the packaging that they put on the market.

Unfortunately many of these are doing nothing about it and yet are not being pursued in the manner we'd like.

Businesses that have an annual turnover of more than €1 million and who are responsible for more than 25 tonnes of packaging must either be a Repak member or operate their own procedures for complying with their obligations.

What's driving the increase in recycling activity?

There's been a large increase in landfill costs to around €175 per tonne, which is at least three times the European average.

This makes recycling more economic and attractive for businesses.

There's now a clear financial benefit to be had from taking recyclable material out of the waste stream.

How do households compare to businesses in terms of recycling awareness?

On the domestic household front, there's a greater overall awareness that's been largely driven by the debate over bin charges.

But there's some way to go - there's been a problem with a lack of infrastructure (like bottle banks and kerbside schemes).

We want to grow domestic recycling rates, which are currently very low.

People are more conscious of recycling now and, when pay by weight waste charges are introduced, they will look to proactively manage their waste costs by recycling.

There have also been a number of campaigns, like Repak's National Recycling Week, as well as a cash for cans recycling programme in schools, and the Department of the Environment's Race Against Waste TV campaign.

Where does Repak go from here?

Packaging is our only remit at the present time, but we have plans to move into other areas, such as WEEE (waste electrical and electronics equipment), which includes computers and household items like fridges, freezers and toasters.