RECYCLING CHANGES ANNOUNCED IN SEPTEMBER AS SOFT PLASTIC WASTE, THAT IS CLEAN, DRY AND LOOSE, CAN NOW BE PLACED IN IRISH HOUSEHOLD RECYCLING BINS. (MY WASTE

Recycling Changes announced in September as Soft Plastic Waste, that is clean, dry and loose, can now be placed in Irish Household Recycling Bins.

All plastic packaging waste - including soft plastic - can now be placed in Irish household recycling bins as long as it is clean, dry and loose. Making the announcement, Minister of State with special responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth TD said soft plastic can be placed in the household recycling bin along with “rigid” plastic. “This is a significant and very positive development in Irish recycling and waste management. Soft plastics have been added to the household recycling list due to advancements in technology at Irish recycling facilities. This is welcome news as we work to reach EU recycling targets. Currently in Ireland we recycle less than a third of all plastic packaging waste. We have committed to increasing our plastic packaging recycling figure to 50% by 2025 and 55% by 2030. Todayʼs announcement is a significant step towards achieving these targets,” added Minister Smyth. Todayʼs development is also part of the effort to fulfil commitments in relation to plastic packaging recycling as outlined in the Governmentʼs Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy. Pauline McDonogh, Spokesperson for MyWaste - Irelandʼs official website for guidance on managing waste, said that the addition of soft plastic to the Irish household recycling bin makes waste segregation much more straight forward for the householder. “Householders can now place all plastic packaging waste, including soft plastic, into the recycling bin once it is clean, dry and loose. "Advancements have been made to the technology that segregates the different material types in recycling facilities. The recyclable plastic is sent to specialised, polymer-specific recycling facilities. If it cannot currently be recycled, it will be sent as Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) to replace fossil fuels at cement kilns.” All permitted waste collection companies are now accepting soft plastic packaging waste that is placed clean, dry and loose into the recycling bin. Hugh Coughlan, Regional Waste Co-ordinator with Eastern Midlands Regional Waste Management Office added – “Local authorities are at the forefront of environmental education and information and quite often are the first port of call for citizens seeking clarity about waste management. Simplifying the household waste presentation for recycling will hopefully make the dissemination of information easier and will ultimately lead to higher presentation rates and an improvement in Ireland reaching its ambitious recycling targets”. `

For a detailed list of the materials that are now accepted in the household recycling bin see mywaste.ie For information on Regional and national waste management campaigns please contact your Regional Waste Management Office:

Declan Breen Sinead Ni Mhainnin Pauline McDonogh Eastern Midlands Connacht Ulster Southern declanbreen@dublincity.ie snimhainnin@mayococo.ie pauline.mcdonogh@srwmo.ie