Page 48 - Plastics News July 2019

iNterNAtioNAL News

Canada releases details on Zero Ireland surpasses all EU recycling

Plastic Waste initiative targets including plastics, glass
and metal
anadian Government
Cministers have explained reland has surpased every recycling and recovery
how they will start to Itarget set for it by the European Commission, making
implement the Zero Plastic it the 21st year in a row that Ireland has surpassed
Waste strategy that aims to all recycling and recovery targets. Ireland’s overall
lower the nation’s use of the recycling rate of 68% for all materials is ahead of the
material.Approved by the EU targets by 13% and one of the lead performances
Canadian Council of Ministers in Europe, according to Repak. The announcement
of the Environment (CCME), was made by Repak, Ireland’s only Government-
the nationwide initiative will approved packaging recycling compliance scheme at
aim to minimise plastic waste’s harmful environmental the launch of its 2018 annual report. The breakdown
impact through greater prevention, collection and of recycling rates by materials are as follows:- Glass
value recovery. The plan revealed the priority actions at 86% (EU target: 60%), Metals at 79% (EU target:
and timelines set out for issues such as consistent and 50%), Paper at 78% (EU target: 60%) Wood at 95% (EU
extensive responsibility programmes for producers of target: 15%), Plastic at 33% (EU target: 22.5%). In
plastic. Also outlined was a step-by-step plan to address 2018, recycling increased by 15,930 tonnes (2.5%) to
the use of one-off plastics and other disposable forms of 636,310 tonnes and plastic waste recovery increased
the material. In addition, the initiative covered circular by 70,431 tonnes (35.7%) to 267,939 tonnes. In total,
economy-supporting incentives such as infrastructure Repak funded the recovery and recycling of 904,249
and innovation investments and guidelines, along with
tools for green government procurement practices. The
government has listened to ideas from various stakeholders
and interested parties, including packaging firms,
institutions, non-government and indigenous organisations
and municipalities to develop the action plan. Nova Scotia
Environment Minister Gordon Wilson said: “Canadians are
more and more aware of the need to generate less waste.
It’s been a pleasure to host my colleagues from across the
country to share our successes and discuss new solutions.”
The action plan will be implemented together by orders tonnes of packaging waste in 2018, an increase of
of government, under the jurisdictional authority of 86,361 tonnes from 2017. This is the highest volume
each region. It also recognises the shared responsibility ever recorded in Ireland, and a 10.5% increase on 2017’s
between jurisdictions in preventing plastic waste, while figure. The announcement was made this morning by
offering the flexibility to implement actions to meet the Repak, Ireland’s only government-approved packaging
individual needs of each jurisdiction. In addition, Canadian recycling compliance scheme, at the launch of its
Ministers have asked government officials to develop the 2018 Annual Report, ‘Shared Responsibility’. Repak
second phase of the action plan with a focus on preventing funds the collection of household recycling bins, civic
plastic pollution in oceans, inland lakes and waterways amenity sites and bottle banks nationwide. In 2018,
for consideration at their 2020 meeting. The second phase household and domestic recycling increased by 6,000
of the action plan will also pay particular attention to tonnes (2%) and commercial recycling increased by
monitoring the impacts of plastics pollution within the 10,000 tonnes (3%). While Ireland currently recycles
environment through technology, building consumer 33% of all plastics, higher than most EU countries, that
awareness, launching clean-ups and taking global action. figure needs to rise to 50% in 2025 and 55% by 2030 to
meet EU targets.

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