Employers group IBEC says if the amount of waste sent to landfill is to be cut, we must deliver the heavy infrastructure needed, and develop markets for the recycled waste.
Speaking ahead of the Recycling Consultative Forum in Dublin today, IBEC's Donal Buckley said although there has been progress on recycling, big challenges still existed.
He said that Ireland must meet demanding landfill diversion targets, reduce the environmental impact of waste facilities and improve end markets for recycled products.
He said that while there has been improvements in some recycling infrastructure, such as bottle banks and civic amenity sites, progress on the heavier infrastructure, such as incinerators and biological treatment facilities, has been slow.
'Investment was deterred by the inability of recycling to compete with landfill and by the vehement opposition to any new waste infrastructure. However, new facilities prove that waste infrastructure can coexist in a community', he said.
While recovery rates differ between sectors, Ireland landfills over half its waste in contrast to other EU states with levels as low as 20%.
IBEC is concerned that as almost 75% of the recycling happens abroad, we are failing to exploit the considerable commercial and employment opportunities that exist.
The IBEC comments came as a new report on waste, from the Environmental Protection Agency, found that the national recycling target was achieved in 2005 - eight years ahead of schedule. But the agency warns we are still generating too much waste and nearly a quarter of household rubbish remains unaccounted for.
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Thorntons Recycling said today it has opened Ireland's first fully permitted facility to recycle End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV).
The company said it has invested €1m in the new facility in Ballyfermot and has made agreements with major car manufacturers such as Ford, Opel, Volvo and Toyota.
