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Repak is celebrating 15 years of recycling success in Ireland
with consumers recycling more than ever.
In total, since 1998, Repak has helped increase packaging
recycling up from under 15% in 1998 to over 66% in 2011, with
over 6.3 million tonnes of used packaging diverted from landfill.
Recent research by Repak, conducted by MRBI amongst
a representative sample of 1,000 adults, shows a dramatic
improvement in recycling habits both in the home and a marked
improvement in the office, but still shows areas for improvement.
The average claimed household recycling rate increases from
58% in 2011 to 65% in 2012. Also, the number of people claiming
to recycle regularly from around their homes and their offices
has increased. The survey showed that 57% of people recycled
regularly from the bathroom in 2012 (versus 43% in 2010).
44% recycled more in their bedroom (an increase from 30% in
2010). When it came to the living room, 45% of respondents
recycled from their living room, an increase from 38% in 2010.
In fact, the research also showed that the average claimed
recycling rate in work increased from 56% in 2011 to 63% in
2012, but recycling from the office desk at 35% and workplace
kitchen at 44% lags behind recycling in the home. This shows
there is a lot more we can all do in helping to increase our
workplace recycling.
To assist in this, Repak has supported the launch of Every
Can Counts in Ireland in conjunction with Alupro Ireland.
This program aims to increase drinks can recycling in the
workplace, colleges and 'on the go'.
This increase highlights the nationwide success of packaging
recycling over the last 15 years. In fact, packaging recycling
rates for 2011 at 651,000 tonnes - represents a 650% increase
since 1998, when Ireland was recycling only 101,000 tonnes
per annum. Ireland is now ranked 7th in Europe for Packaging
recycling.
Repak attributes this success to the collective efforts of
government, Local Authorities, consumers and businesses and
waste contractors -
- Better collection infrastructure - e.g. now 95%
of homes have kerbside collections, up from 50,000 in 1998,
a threefold increase in the number of recycling centres
and a doubling of bring facilities
- Better awareness of recycling and environment -
campaigns by Repak like Repak Recycling week, Race against
Waste, etc. have contributed to greater awareness and real
behavioural change in recycling habits.
- Improved policy supports for recycling
o The establishment of Producer Responsibility Initiatives
such as Repak, WEEE Ireland, Irish Farm Films etc. paying
to support recycling of their end of life wastes
o Polluter pays principle - with introduction of
Pay by Weight/Pay by use bin charges, encouraging /incentivising
better and more recycling o Higher Landfill levies - support
alternatives to landfilling, making recycling more costs
effective
o Improved recycling/recovery options.
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