The Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, has struck a deal which he says will guarantee the recycling of "virtually all" consumer glass deposits collected in the Republic over the next three years.
The deal with Rehab Recycling Partnership and Co Fermanagh firm Quinn Glass will fill the gap following the closure of the Irish Glass plant in Ringsend, Dublin last year.
In 1995 11,000 tonnes of waste glass were collected for recycling. This figure shot up to 60,000 tonnes last year, equating to 120 million bottles or jars.
"Today's deal fills the vacuum left by the loss of Irish Glass," Mr Cullen said
