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# recycle
We're throwing fewer black bags of rubbish into landfills
There was a a slight increase in the quantity of household waste collected in 2013.
IRELAND IS SENDING fewer black bags full of rubbish to landfills, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
An increasing share of residual waste, black bin waste, is being used as an energy source/fuel and less is being sent to landfill. This is linked to the increase in the landfill levy and the availability of more waste-to-energy outlets, including abroad, said the EPA.
Black bags
While less black bin bags filling up landfills is welcome, the EPA finds that in terms of household waste, there was a slight increase in the quantity of household waste collected in 2013.
The trend in household waste managed per person in the State has, however, remained relatively stable since 2011.
There was a slight increase in municipal waste, from both households and commercial premises, treated at composting facilities in 2013.
Food waste
This includes an 8% increase in brown bin waste, which is mainly food waste, that is accepted at composting and anaerobic digestion facilities.
Dr Jonathan Derham, EPA Programme Manager, said the figures indicate a number of positive developments.
“An increasing reliance on the export of such waste is unsustainable. This represents a lost opportunity in terms of potential energy recovery and jobs for the State. This needs to be countered with national waste infrastructure to bring forward opportunities for the re-use of value-added material and create a circular economy”.
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