The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) Ireland has welcomed the investment in sorting technology for Ireland’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) network as part of the Irish Programme for Government.
ACE Ireland represents Tetra Pak, Elopak, and SIG Combibloc, manufacturers of beverage cartons for the Irish and European markets. The association says it is focused on increasing collection and recycling rates for all recyclable materials placed on the Irish market and believes targeted investment in Ireland’s MRFs is key to delivering this, to ensure recyclable materials collected at kerbside are correctly sorted for full onward recycling.
ACE Ireland chief executive, Mandy Kelly commented: “It’s very encouraging to see the commitment to provide investment for sorting technology in MRFs outlined in the Programme for Government. This reflects a key ask from our General Election manifesto and would be a significant step to improving recycling processes and rates in Ireland.
“Beverage cartons are a circular, renewable and recyclable food packaging solution and it’s essential that the necessary infrastructure and investment is in place to maximize their potential in Ireland’s circular economy and to meet EU collection and recycling targets.”
In February last year, research conducted by Every Can Counts suggested that 29% of consumers in the Republic of Ireland were unsure how to use its new deposit return scheme (DRS), but 69% believed it would encourage them to recycle more. 17% of respondents reported they did not have enough time to return their cans and plastic bottles; however, over three quarters claimed they were more likely to buy a drink container they believe to be recyclable, including aluminium cans and plastic and glass bottles.
It was later reported that over two million drinks containers were returned in the first month of Ireland’s DRS scheme, according to its operator Re-turn. 200,999 containers were said to have been returned on 29th February 2024, making it the most active day on record so far.
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