Madam, - In response to a letter from Maureen Willis in your edition of January 17th, I would like to correct a few misperceptions. Packaging waste comprises less than 30 per cent of the average household bin. Ms Willis suggests taking packaging waste back to stores, but a more efficient and targeted solution would be to charge producers for their packaging, thereby penalising over-packaging on products.The money collected could be used to help fund convenient recycling systems.
Such a scheme is already operated by Repak, which charges the companies producing packaging according to the type and volume. Repak uses these funds to support bring banks and recycling centres as well as the most convenient outlet - household green bins, which take multiple materials from different sources. This makes recycling more convenient and thereby ensures greater overall recycling rates than pure "take-back" alone would achieve.
This scheme has been very effective and, according to the EPA, Repak funded the recovery of 56 per cent of all used packaging in 2004, well ahead of municipal recycling rates of 34 per cent. However, packaging also accounts for less than a third of the recyclable material in the average green bin. Unfortunately, there is no scheme or incentive in place for other wastes such as newspapers, which are the major component of green bin waste.
As for "unnecessary packaging", much can be and is being done in this area. To suggest much packaging is "unnecessary" ignores the role and function of packaging. You cannot get the cornflakes from factory to table without a protective outer box.
Milk packaging extends shelf life while smaller multi-packs are packed in single portion sizes for convenience of consumption and to facilitate multiple purchase. What is critical is that producers are made to pay for the recycling of their used packaging in accordance with the amount they produce.
The Repak system of producer responsibility for packaging is proven in Ireland and throughout Europe in countries such as Germany and France to produce higher recycling rates than "take back" alone.
However Repak does support "take back" for companies which are not members of Repak and who are doing nothing to support the collective recycling of their waste, including newspapers. - Yours, etc,
DARRELL CROWE, Marketing Manager, Repak, Ballymount Lane, Co Dublin.