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The Central Statistics Office reported in 2007 that almost 90% of Irish households recycled some of their household waste, compared to just 48% in 1999. The figure was highest for residents in Dublin (94%).


EPA STATISTICS

According to the latest available ):

  • 22.7% of Household Waste is recycled (2013 target: 50%).

  • 34.6% of municipal waste is recycled (2013 target: 35%).

  • 59.9% of packaging waste is recylced (2005 target: 50%; 2011 target: 60%).

  • 86.9% of construction and demolition waste is recycled.


The EPA plan to have 35% of all waste recycled by 2013.


PLASTIC BAG LEVY

One noticeable success in Ireland's environmental track record was the introduction of a Plastic Bag Levy in 2003, the first country in the world to do so. All consumers were required to pay 15c for a plastic bag (since increased to 22c); this led to an immediate decrease of over 90% in the amount of Plastic Bag s in circulation. The levy encouraged retailers to switch to paper bags, and encouraged consumers to bring their own bags when shopping. The media coverage also helped raise awareness about the damage plastic bags do to the environment. There has been some evidence of complacency, however, suggesting that the number of plastic bags has begun to rise again.


WEEE

The Waste Electrical And Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive was introduced into Irish law in August 2005. Under this law, retailers of electrical goods are required to provide free in-store take back for old electrical goods for customers buying new electrical equipment. The cost of this is passed onto consumers.


PACKAGING

Repak is Ireland's packaging recovery organisation.


PRACTICES AROUND THE COUNTRY

In Dublin , a company called Oxigen supply Green Bin s for recycling to all households, and local councils supply black bins for all other waste. The green bins are collected every 4 weeks-householders can dispose of paper, cardboard, cans and tins in this bin, and it is illegal to dispose of such waste in a black bin. Householders have to pay every time their black bin is collected; this is to discourage people from using the black bin. Oxigen also run a pilot brown bin scheme for garden and Food Waste , which is collected every week. This is only in operation in some parts of Dublin, mainly in north county Dublin. It is due to be rolled out across Dublin by the end of 2007/early 2008, once suitable facilities for dealing with the waste are in place. A similar brown bin scheme has been in place in Galway for some time.

Variations of this system are in place across the country. Some local authorities, such as Limerick County Council , now outsource all waste collection to private authorities. Householders can choose what size bin they want, and pay accordingly. However, they are not charged every time the bin is collected. Other councils operate a weigh-and-pay system, where households are charged according to the weight of the Waste Collected ,for example,South Tipperary County Council charge 14c per kg (accurate as of 31 August 2007). Recyclable waste in South Tipp is collected separately in plastic bags which are purchased at local shops, together with stickers that are placed on the bags.
In Galway city, over 50% of waste is now recycled, the highest proportion in the country.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of bottle banks and recycling facilities across the country over the last 10 years, but facilities continue to struggle with demand.

Websites have been set up where people can post their junk or items they no longer need and have it taken away, such as {Link without Title} , or the well known freecycle sites.


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guy recycling www.guyrecycling.co.nr