87 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for the Environment if the level of recycling of household and commercial waste has improved beyond the 8 per cent acknowledged some years ago; the current level of recycling in Cork for household, commercial and packaging waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18816/95]

The most recent comprehensive data available to my Department are contained in the strategy document Recycling for Ireland, and indicate a national recycling rate of 7.4 per cent for combined household and commercial waste and 10.3 per cent for packaging waste. More recent information indicates increased levels of recycling including, for example, industry estimates of a current overall recycling rate of 18 per cent for packaging waste.

As stated in reply to Question No. 106 of 14 November 1995, the Environmental Protection Agency has commissioned a comprehensive project on waste statistics. This will update and increase significantly the information available on waste activities generally.