A new labelling system, unique to Ireland, has been launched to make it easier for people to recycle.
The Climate Action Plan to tackle climate breakdown, which was published by Minister Bruton earlier, commits to working with industry to improve labelling to avoid confusion or ambiguity.
Proper segregation of waste is crucial. It minimizes the amount of waste ending up in landfill and helps us use our resources more effectively.
The three new labels being launched are voluntary for use by producers, manufacturers and retailers, identifying clearly whether an item is widely recycled, whether it is not recyclable, and whether more information should be sought before deciding how to dispose.
These new labels are being introduced at a time when two thirds of the plastic used by industry in packaging is non-recyclable in Ireland today.
This is just one initiative being put forward to encourage enterprise to reduce their use of non-recyclable materials and use recycled, recyclable packaging.
Co-operation between the Department, local authorities, Repak and the waste collection industry led to the development a single unified national recycling list for household waste collection in November, 2017.
The Repak Plastics Pledge, which commits signatories to reducing plastic packaging waste and helping Ireland increase packaging recycling rates, will see over 10,600 tonnes of plastic packaging diverted from waste this year.
Mywaste.ie, funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, is the government’s one stop shop providing householders with all the advice they need to prevent and manage waste.
