# recycling
This week
19th March 2023 - 24th March 2023
# Waste
New waste regulations to include incentivised charging and segregation for commercial waste
This change will bring the commercial sector in line with the residential sector, for whom incentivised pricing has been in place since 2017.
Last year
2022
# Waste Away
The Explainer x Noteworthy: What happens to your soft plastic recycling?
Alice Chambers of Noteworthy and Mindy O’Brien of environmental charity VOICE tell Susan Daly about Ireland’s recycling system.
THE MORNING LEAD
Soft plastic is being collected but almost all burned in Irish kilns or recycled abroad
Guidelines changed in 2021 to allow soft plastic in our recycling bins – Noteworthy investigates what happens to it.
An estimated 9,000 tonnes of additional soft plastic recycled in 2022
Almost all Irish household soft plastic that does get recycled is shipped abroad
EPA: Ireland is ‘in danger’ of missing 2025 plastic packaging recycling targets
# recycling
Rising levels of waste making it difficult to increase recycling rates, EPA warns
The EPA’s national waste statistics report for 2020 has been published today.
# e-waste
E-waste warning as record number of electrical items recycled
WEEE Ireland’s annual report reveals that it collected 18.7 million waste electrical items last year.
All time
# recycling
Urgent action needed over 'worryingly low' plastic packaging recycling rates, says EPA
There’s “significant cause for concern” from these figures according to an EPA Senior Scientist.
# deposit return scheme
Regulations have been signed for a Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans
The drinks industry is to fund and operate the scheme.
Voices
Opinion: Recycling soft plastics is fine but we must simply stop using them
Mindy O’Brien says the changes to the recycling of plastics should not mean a ‘get out of jail free’ card for plastic manufacturers and businesses.
# recycling
More than one million tonnes of packaging waste created in Ireland for third year in a row
Our recycling rate has continued to decline.
# clean dry loose
Soft plastics can now be placed in Irish recycling bins
All plastics can now be placed in the household recycling bin once they are clean, dry and loose
# sustainability
€490k new funding announced to help create a 'circular economy' in Ireland
Ten projects will be chosen to receive the funding.
# electrical recycling
Irish people recycled a lot of electrical waste last year - mostly kettles
There was a 9% increase in electronic waste recycling per person last year.
# Rubbish
EPA warns 'single-use and throwaway culture' leading to significant waste levels and decline in recycling
Recycling of packaging waste has declined from 70% in 2013 to 64% in 2018.
# Eamon Ryan
Ban on some single-use plastic and levy on disposable cups: The government's plan to tackle waste
The five-year plan aims to “place Ireland at the vanguard of EU efforts”.
# recycling
Nationwide post-lockdown electrical goods buying spree sees record recycling levels
WEEE Ireland said it recovered 3,763 tonnes of electrical waste in July.
# Your Say
Poll: Is on-street recycling a good idea?
Dublin City Council is considering a re-trial of street recycling bins.
# Waste Management
Dublin City Council considers re-trial of street recycling bins
The council previously trialed the idea at two city centre locations in 2018.
# recycling
McDonald's to trial recycling unwanted plastic toys into new products such as coffee cups
The initial trial will run for four weeks in seven restaurants in the UK and Ireland.
# recycling
Coffee cups to be hit with levy of up to 25 cent under new plastic crackdown plans
A levy on fast-food takeaway containers is also on the way.
# Monaghan
Ireland's first reverse vending machine allows people to recycle plastic bottles in return for 10c vouchers
The machine is located in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.
# ireland 2029
'Can we get away from plastics? No. Can we use plastics better? Yes.'
In the latest episode of Ireland 2029, we’ve looked at the country going plastic free before the end of the next decade.
# flying the green flag
Ireland surpasses all EU recycling targets including plastics, glass and metal
Ireland currently recycles 33% of all plastics, which needs to rise to 50% in 2025 and 55% by 2030 to meet EU targets.
# Voluntary
These unique new labels are to make recycling easier in Ireland
The system is supposed to help consumers see which items are widely recycled, and which aren’t recyclable.
# recycling
Canada is planning to ban single-use plastics as early as 2021
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement today.
# recycling
Ministers to order State bodies to decarbonise under new Climate Action Plan
Public agencies will have to reduce food waste, promote water conservation, and roll out recycling practices.
# recycling
Lidl says it's introducing in-store recycling stations across the country
The supermarket chain said that recycling stations will rolled out next month.
# recycling
FactCheck: Are supermarkets required to accept plastic packaging, if you leave it at the checkout?
Supermarkets have pledged that they take extensive efforts at recycling, but do they have to accept if you want to leave them behind?
# microbeads
The government is declaring war in 2019 (on single-use plastics)
Unnecessary use of the plastics will be completely banned in the public sector.
# samantha ravndahl
Other influencers should follow Samantha Ravndahl's lead when it comes to accepting PR
Her reasoning for doing so is pretty sound.
# recycling
'Perhaps we are wrong': Government to examine bottle deposit scheme 'afresh'
The Green Party said Ireland is sitting on its hands and waiting for the EU to legislate on plastics.
# Your Say
Poll: Do you make efforts to reduce how much single-use plastics you buy?
Lidl has confirmed that by next year it will have discontinued the sale of single-use plastics in its Irish stores.
# Environment
Lidl Ireland won't be selling single-use plastics after next year
But they aren’t going as far as their stores in the UK just yet.
# OFF TARGET
To reach EU targets Ireland needs to increase its plastic recycling by 80%
According to Repak, Ireland’s plastic recycling must increase to 175,000 tonnes by 2030 to reach new EU targets.
Voices
'Compostable cup for your coffee sound good? It all depends on where it ends up'
Recyclable and compostable options are only truly beneficial if they end up, and are processed, in the correct waste facility, writes industry expert Brian O’Sullivan.
# latte levy
22,000 coffee cups are disposed of in Ireland every hour
There is talk that a so-called latte levy might be introduced to combat waste.
# Going Green
Supermacs to introduce recyclable cups, paper straws and biodegradable burger wraps in all restaurants
The changes are part of the restaurant’s green initiative which is being rolled out across all 110 outlets.
# waste reduction
Minister calls on supermarkets to reduce the use of non-recyclable plastic packaging for fruit and veg
Minister Denis Naughten is currently considering a range of environmental levies on single-use plastic products.
# e-waste
Almost 12 million small appliances were recycled in Ireland last year
Enough iron for 2.5 Eiffel towers and enough copper for 27 Statues of Liberty was recovered.
# recycling
Minister says bin charges will rise by up to €1 per lift if bottle deposit scheme introduced
The Environment Committee voted to ensure the set up of a bottle deposit scheme is compulsory.
# Charging
Greyhound latest bin company to start charging customers for green bins
The charges have been blamed on China’s decision to stop accepting and processing recycling materials.
