Recycling targets in sight

Ireland is on course to meet the EU target of 50% recycling after a leap in the amount of materials recycled in 2003.

47% of all used packaging was recylced in 2003, including wood, glass, steel, plastic and aluminium.

The figures, released today by Repak, are a 25% increase on the materials recycled in 2002.

The bulk of materials recycled cmae from the industrial sector, but there has also been a leap of 48% in the amount of domestic waste recycled. Repak intends to focus on futher increases to the domestic rates of recycling in 2004, a spokesman said.

Repak boss Andrew Hetherington said: “We are delighted with the results, but success comes at a price. As a result of large success in volumes recycled, we have been operating in deficits for the last three years. 2004 will be critical for us to operate on a break even basis.

"To help achieve this we need serious enforcement of the regulations form the DOELG and local authorities.”

Repak is a not-for-profit members based packaging compliance scheme, currently Ireland’s only producer responsibility scheme, which was established under a voluntary agreement between industry and the Department of the Environment and Local Government in 1997.