Sir, – Further to “Ireland risks missing EU recycling targets, warns EPA” (News, December 7th), the municipal waste recycling rate was 41 per cent in 2020, but there is an EU target of 55 per cent to be reached by 2025.
The recycling rate has flatlined in recent years and something different is needed to achieve a stepped rate improvement. The use of financial incentives to reward good behaviour should encourage the behavioural change needed to help reach a recycling rate of 55 per cent. One example of such an incentive is the recently announced deposit return scheme.
This aims to increase the recycling rate for drinks containers by charging a small, refundable deposit for each plastic bottle or can.
The deposit return scheme could be expanded to include cartons and cardboard packaging, all of which are accepted by civic amenity recycling sites. This in turn would encourage greater footfall to civic amenity recycling sites which also accept loose plastic, paper, batteries, and waste electrical and electronic equipment and clothing.
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Increased visits to civic amenity recycling sites will result in a higher recycling rate. – Yours, etc,
MARK FOX,
Shankill,
Dublin 18.
