AQW 1044/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 07/06/2022
Answered On Date: 06/07/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what steps his Department plans to take to increase the glass recycling rate.

Answer:

As announced in March, I have agreed that new targets for glass recycling will be placed on producers as part of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging reforms due to be implemented from 2024.

A glass recycling target of 75% in 2024 rising to 83% in 2030 is proposed. The target exceeds the EU glass recycling targets of 70% in 2025 and 75% in 2030.

The targets take into account the decision to exclude glass drink containers in Northern Ireland and England in response to the 2021 Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) consultation. However, Northern Ireland will keep under review the inclusion of glass once the DRS is fully operational to ensure glass drinks containers are meeting the required recycling targets.