Irish Waste Management Association Welcomes EU Report

20 January 2011 The publication of the latest European Commission research on waste prevention and recycling in the EU - Supporting the Thematic Strategy on Waste Prevention and Recycling - has been welcomed by the Irish Waste Management Association (IWMA). IWMA says that the European Commission report shows that Ireland is ranked in first place amongst 27 EU member states for the change in MSW recycling rates between 2001 and 2005. During this time period MSW recycling grew by 21.3% in Ireland, as compared with Denmark (up 5.2%), Belgium (up 2.8%) and Spain (down 7.4%). In addition, at 2005 rates Ireland was ranked eighth out of 27 EU member states with a municipal waste recycling rate of 35%, just behind Austria. However, the IWMA points out that the report also warns of the impact incineration can have on recycling rates, stating that there are 'mounting concerns that in the push to focus on energy recovery from waste...the potential benefits of recycling, reuse and prevention are being sidelined' The Association said in a statement that this research highlights the threat that the proposed Poolbeg incinerator - which the IWMA claims to be oversized relative to the Dublin region waste market - poses to recycling rates. Brendan Keane, Spokesperson from the IWMA, commented: "This European Commission research chimes with what the IWMA has been saying concerning the development of a 600,000 tonne incinerator at Poolbeg. Put simply, the Dublin Region does not have the waste to supply an incinerator of this size." The IWMA believes that an incinerator at approximately half this size would be appropriate for the Dublin Region.