Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 March 2026
15. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the grants which will be available under the rollout of the EU's Waste Framework Directive as it pertains to textile recycling to accelerate and carry out the huge task of improving Ireland's poor textile recycling rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17719/26]
View answerThe revised Waste Framework Directive with respect to food waste and textiles entered into force in October last year. In relation to textiles, the Directive imposes a requirement to establish an Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme (EPR) for textiles and the setting up of a Producer Responsibility organisation (PRO) to run the scheme on behalf of producers by April 2028.
The Directive provides that Member States will ensure that producers designate one or more PROs to fulfil their EPR obligations on their behalf. The Directive further provides that producers cover the costs of the following: collection and management of used and waste textiles and footwear; collection; transport; sorting; preparing for reuse; and recycling operations.
In due course, textile producers’ fees will provide the funds necessary to support collection, sorting, repair, reuse and recycling and other activities as stipulated in the Directive including initiatives to inform consumers about sustainable textiles and to research waste prevention and management.
In 2025, I made grants available to local authorities to support local collection infrastructure and to ensure we met our national obligation to provide separate collection of textiles. The provision of further grant assistance will be kept under review as we progress implementation of the Waste Framework Directive requirements.
