Recycling rates have continued to rise in Ireland, with a third of municipal waste and almost 20% of household rubbish reclaimed in 2004, a report revealed today.
The Environmental Protection Agency¡¯s (EPA) National Waste Report found the amount of municipal waste recycled in 2004 rose 5% on the previous year¡¯s figures to 33.6%.
Household waste recycling rates also rose more than 6% from 13.1% in 2003 to 19.5%.
The amount of rubbish ending up as landfill fell slightly in both municipal and household categories.
Environment Minister Dick Roche welcomed the report¡¯s findings, which he said showed the Government¡¯s strategy on waste was working.
The national target on recovering packaging waste ¨C set at 50% by 2005 ¨C was exceeded in 2004, with 56.4% of the rubbish saved.
But there is still a long way to go before to meet the household recycling target of 50% recycled by 2013, the report showed.
Municipal waste is already only 2% off the 2013 aim of 35% recycled.
The EPA figures revealed there was a rise in bring banks and civic amenity recycling sites in 2004, and a drop in the number of landfill sites accepting municipal waste.
Mr Roche said: ¡°All the building blocks have been put in place ¨C the policy, the legislation and resources ¨C and now we are starting to see results.
¡°There are more bring banks and civic amenity sites than ever before, there is more recycling taking place than ever previously.
¡°Producer responsibility initiatives are making a big impact in areas like packaging waste and waste electrical and electronic equipment.
¡°But we need to do more,¡± he said.
¡°We need more waste prevention, more minimisation and more infrastructure for thermal treatment so we can further reduce our reliance on landfill.
¡°We need continued enforcement to make sure that our environment is respected.
¡°Again, I welcome this report for showing us how far we have come and for highlighting the challenges that lie ahead,¡± he said.
