Majority of waste plastic wrapping incinerated for energy recovery with release of carbon dioxide into atmosphere posing ‘significant’ threat to future recycling targets
Poolbeg incinerator: Every kilogram of plastic incinerated contributes an average of 2.7kg of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, the Environmental Protection Agency says. Photograph: Nick BradshawLess than one-third of total plastic packaging waste produced in Ireland was recycled in 2021, according to a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency.
In total, an estimated 413,590 tonnes of carbon dioxide were released into the atmosphere in 2021 due to plastic incineration, according to the EPA. Out of the 373,000 tonnes of waste plastic packaging produced in Ireland, 28 per cent was recycled with 70 per cent incinerated for energy recovery. In 2017, 44 per cent of plastic packaging waste was incinerated. Every kilogram of plastic incinerated contributes an average of 2.7kg of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, according to the report. The State is left with “significant challenges” in meeting the 2025 and 2030 EU recycling targets for plastic of 50 per cent and 55 per cent, says the EPA. ]
The report, published on Thursday morning, states that Ireland increased its total waste packaging production to 1.2 million tonnes, but the amount of waste that was recycled dropped by 4 per cent in 2021. According to the EPA, Ireland’s recycling capabilities “cannot keep up” with the total increase in packaging waste being generated, with waste generation increasing three times quicker than recycling figures.
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