IBEC backs State’s incinerator plans

EMPLOYERS’ group, IBEC, has backed the Government’s stance on the need for incinerators, even though 33% of packaging waste was recycled last year.

IBEC said yesterday it supported the plan to build incinerators around the country.

It believes that a certain amount of waste will have to be incinerated despite the recycling.

At least six incinerators are planned for locations nationwide.

Last year the national recycling target was 25%, but Repak, the company responsible for recycling, recycled 237,000 tonnes, or 33%, of waste.

“There will always be residual waste that will have to be incinerated. But we’ve always known that recycling can go a long way to reducing waste levels,” IBEC environment spokesperson Eric O’Donovan said.

However, Mr O’Donovan insisted that business groups were committed to recycling as much waste as possible.

Environmental group Earthwatch has condemned businesses for not rejecting incineration. It believes that cash invested in incineration should be allocated to recycling and waste reduction projects.

“When you look at areas like Galway where recycling has led to a 63% reduction in waste, it becomes clear that incineration can be avoided,” Earthwatch spokesperson Tom Prendeville said.

The Repak National Recycling Week, which runs until Sunday, is trying to inform householders and industry about the need to recycle to meet EU targets.

Repak has warned that households could eventually face bin charges of thousands of euro, if more waste is not recycled.

Refuse charges are expected to rise soon because there is an average of just four years left in landfills.

“We have the capability to meet our new targets of 50% of all packaging waste by 2005,” Repak CEO Andrew Hetherington said.

Research shows that although 74% of people are aware that glass recycling facilities are available to them, only 25% recycle glass regularly.

Every year each household is producing a tonne of rubbish and at least two thirds of this could be recycled.

Last year the collection of dry recyclable goods was extended to an additional 110,000 households nationwide.

The number of recycling banks, where householders can leave their waste, was increased from 930 to 1204 in 2001.

The range of materials collected at bring banks also increased with plastic, food and cardboard now accepted.