Ireland expected to recycle over 62,000 tonnes of packaging this Easter

Irish residents are expected to recycle over 62,000 tonnes of packaging waste this Easter, a 1.8% increase on the 60,900 tonnes recycled in 2023. 

Easter marks one of the busiest times of the year for waste recovery operators across the country, which is why it’s so important that all packaging, including cardboard boxes, plastic moulds, chocolate trays, and clean tin foil, is placed in the recycling bin clean, dry, and loose.  

New research commissioned by environmental not-for-profit organisation, Repak, surveyed 1,000 adults in Ireland on their Easter spending, recycling habits and knowledge of what can be recycled. 

An overwhelming majority (88 per cent) said that they felt confident in their recycling abilities when it comes to disposing of Easter egg packaging. However, when asked how much of their Easter egg packaging they would recycle, just three in five (59%) stated they planned to recycle all of it. 

A quarter (25 per cent) said they would recycle the cardboard box and plastic insert, while one in ten said they would only recycle the outer cardboard packaging. Just 2 per cent said they didn’t plan to recycle at all.  

The age-old tradition of gifting Easter eggs remains popular, with over a third (37 per cent) planning to buy between 3-5 chocolate eggs, and a quarter (25 per cent) planning to buy eight or more this year, while 28 per cent will buy at least one Easter egg for themselves. 

Séamus Clancy, CEO of Repak, says it is important to remember that Easter is a particularly busy time of the year for waste operators across the country, and Repak “continues to encourage the public to play their part and segregate their waste correctly by ensuring only recyclable items go in the recycling bin clean, dry, and loose.”

He added, “If we work together, we will be able to successfully contribute to a circular economy, protect our environment, and build on our recycling habits.” 

This year, over a quarter (27 per cent) will spend more money on Easter eggs than last year, while more than half (57 per cent) will spend the same and 16 per cent plan to spend less. 22 per cent will spend between €16-€25 on Easter eggs, 21% plan to spend between €26-€40, and a third (33%) will spend more than €41.  

This Easter, Repak is calling on the public to continue recycling all types of packaging, particularly packaging from Easter Eggs and gifts. Cardboard boxes, plastic moulds, chocolate trays, clean tin foil, and egg boxes can all be recycled once they are clean, dry, and loose.