As of 2009, Ireland produced 482,366 tonnes of plastic waste, of which 124,424 tonnes were recycled (26%). See Rx3 Report Of this, 80,000 tonnes was PET, the plastic polymer used for plastic bottles. We only recycled 31% of these bottles (around 25,000 tonnes). We have a huge potential to increase our recycling rates and one of the tools to achieve this is through a deposit/refund system whereby consumers pay a small deposit on each bottle bought, which is then refunded when the bottle is returned. This system has been successfully used in many States in the US as well as in many EU countries.Deposit/Refund Systems:In the Netherlands, the government charges a 25c deposit on all PET bottles which has resulted in a 95% return. In Sweden, they have an 84% return for their PET bottles and Finland boasts a 92% return for PET bottles as a result of their deposit/refund system.While Ireland’s recycling rate hovers around 37%, we can do better. The Irish are good at recycling at home where an effective kerbside programme is in place. However, we fare much worse in the office environment and when we are out and about. There is no incentive to reduce and recycle our waste. In the office, the office pays the waste disposal bill and the cities and counties are responsible for waste disposed in public bins or on the streets. We pay for our waste disposal at home and we are hit in the pocket books if we throw recyclables in the black bin.As Ireland puts together its Resource Efficiency Roadmap programme, we urge you to contact Minister Phil Hogan at minister@environ.ie and urge him to include a deposit/refund system as an essential tool to reduce waste and promote resource efficiency.Here is a sample email. letter to Min HoganPhoto by paul-simpson.org at www.flickr.com