Almost half of plastic packaging waste that arises on the Irish market originates from commercial premises. Businesses should be aware of their legal obligation to segregate recyclable plastic packaging materials from other types of waste.  

At present Ireland meets all of the previous EU targets set in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive. In fact, we already exceed 2025 targets for Wood (69%) and Paper & Cardboard (84%). In the case of glass recycling we already exceed our 2030 targets with a current recycling rate of 86%. However the new plastic packaging recycling targets will be more challenging for Ireland to meet and present an opportunity for Ireland to change the way in which we manage these often complex materials, which currently have a recycling rate of 31%. To achieve the new EU targets of 50% by 2025 and 55% by 2030 will require a dramatic change by all stakeholders in order to capture more of this material. 

The Business Opportunity 

As a packaging compliance scheme, Repak funds the recycling of packaging waste in order to help Ireland meet its packaging recycling targets. In 2020 Repak saw a 3.5% decline in the tonnes of backdoor plastic packaging waste it funded versus 2019.  This is most often due to poor waste segregation practices on site as a result of: 

• Recyclable plastic packaging being discarded in business general waste bins  
• Material being too contaminated when placed in a recycling bin, making it unsuitable for recycling  
• Waste collection infrastructure or services that do not meet the current needs of the businesses. 

Although this decline is a concern, it must also present a significant opportunity to increase plastic packaging recycling rates given circa 50% of all packaging waste generated in Ireland arises at commercial premises. 

What can you do? 

First of all, it is important to note that there are certain legal obligations on Irish businesses when it comes to the segregation of packaging waste. Regulation 5 of the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014 as amended states that:  

• Producers should ensure that packaging waste is separated at source, by material type 
• Packaging waste should be collected by a contractor for the purposes of recycling. 

It is important therefore that your business is segregating all recyclable packaging. Plastic packaging materials such as plastic pallet wrap, shrink hoods, case wrap and pallet sheets should be separated from other types of waste. If in doubt about what your waste contractor will accept in the recycling bin or in bales, ask them for their assistance. It is also essential that these recyclable materials are kept as clean and dry as possible so that they are suitable for recycling at the point of collection.  

In Association with

PLASTIC PLEDGE MAKES A DIFFERENCE 

In 2021, Repak Plastic Pledge members achieved an average plastic packaging recycling rate at their premises of 69%, and diverted a total of 26,000 tonnes of plastic packaging waste from the Irish market. Plastic Pledge members also reduced their plastic packaging by an average of 25%,  removing or replacing over 600 million single use plastic items. Repak’s Plastic Pledge initiative has 142 signatories, who focus on achieving five objectives. 

Objective 1:  Prioritise the prevention of plastic packaging waste.  

Objective 2:  Support Ireland to deliver the Circular Economy Package’s plastic recycling targets. 

Objective 3:  Reduce complexity in the plastic packaging supply chain.

Objective 4:  Incorporate recycled content to build a circular economy. 

Objective 5:  Ensure our approach aligns to the EPA’s Food Waste Charter.