Repak launches recycling campaign

Repak, the industry funded waste packaging compliance scheme has today launched its recycling hints and tips campaign in an effort to recycle over 300 tonnes at 60 special Green Christmas Centres throughout Ireland.

As part of the campaign Repak will distribute over 10,000 Green Christmas Recycling Stickers, to encourage people to recycle over Christmas.

According to Andrew Hetherington, CEO, Repak "Our research shows that most packaging gets dumped just after presents are opened. We have developed a nationwide infrastructure to collect and recycle the packaging waste and our sticker campaign is designed to remind people, at the opening stage, of the need to recycle."

If every household in Ireland recycled three sheets of wrapping paper, three wine bottles, two cardboard boxes, and five drinks cans, three plastic drinks bottles we could stop 3,300 tonnes of waste going to landfill.

This equates to over 663 truckloads or 3.3 kilometers of compressed waste. The details of the locations of the Green Christmas Centres, their opening hours and the materials they accept are available from www.repak.ie or by calling the local authority.

According to Repak, the amount of packaging waste generated in Ireland increases by almost 30% during the Christmas period.

Repak is a not-for-profit members based compliance scheme established under a voluntary agreement between industry and the Department of the Environment and Local Government.