Ireland is well advanced in achieving most of the EU waste recovery and recycling targets, with the exception of end of life vehicle targets, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Waste Report 2010 released.

The economic downturn is having a marked influence on municipal waste generation, which has decreased by 16 per cent since it peaked in 2007. The quantity of household waste collected for treatment fell by 5 per cent in spite of an increase in population. The recovery rate for packaging waste increased to 74 per cent.

The main findings of the report were that in 2010:

•Municipal waste generation fell by 3.6 per cent compared to 2009.

•Household waste recovery increased by 11 per cent compared to 2009.

•Household waste collected for treatment fell by 5 per cent and commercial waste collected fell by 12 per cent compared to 2009.

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•Municipal waste recycling achieved a rate of 38 per cent, a 3 per cent increase compared to 2009, and close to the EU27 norm of 40 per cent.

•Ireland met its 2010 EU Landfill Directive target for diversion of biodegradable municipal waste from landfill.

•A recovery rate of 74 per cent was achieved for packaging waste, exceeding the EU target of 60 per cent by 2011.

•Ireland is failing to meet the End of Life Vehicle Directive targets for reuse, recovery and recycling of vehicles and their components.

•29 per cent of occupied houses do not participate in, or are not offered, a waste collection service.

•At current fill rates, 15 of the 28 currently active municipal solid waste landfills in Ireland will close in the next three years. There is a remaining national landfill capacity of 12 years.

•Use of waste as an energy fuel grew by 20 per cent from 2009 figures to 183,000 tonnes in 2010.

Commenting on the report's findings, EPA Director General Laura Burke said: "There has been a significant reduction in the amount of municipal waste generated in Ireland, from a peak of almost 3.4 million tonnes in 2007, to less than 2.9 million tonnes in 2010. The economic downturn is continuing to have a marked influence on waste generation, particularly in the commercial waste and construction & demolition waste streams. When the economy begins to improve, it is important that we decouple waste generation from economic growth."

(CD/GK)