Ireland is expected to generate 97,000 tonnes of packaging waste this Christmas – but the good news is a lot of it can be recycled.

Repak is warning that the country will see a 4% increase in packaging waste this year and urging everyone to do what they can to recycle.

Ireland currently recycles 31% of all plastics, but that needs to increase to 50% by 2025 if we are to meet our European targets.

Research shows that 25% of contamination in recycling bins comes for domestic customers and Repak is urging people to find out more best practice recycling at Team Green.

While not everything can go in your green bin, there are recycling centres all over the country that will recycle bulkier things like metals, electronics, paint packaging and larger items.

Reporting for Late Breakfast today, Newstalk reporter Aoife Kearns travelled to the Coolmyne Recycling Centre in Blanchardstown to get ahead of the Christmas queues.

Dumping

Fingal County Council Senior Executive Officer Paul Smith said there is a big dumping problem in the area – even though people can recycle for free.

“Our crews unfortunately out working around the county, find that material that can be readily taken to a recycling centre is dumped in ditches in the north of the county,” he said.

“We then have to clean that up at the taxpayer’s expense when all of those goods can be brought to a recycling centre.

“It is the same level of effort and activity to bring them to a recycling centre and in most cases, you can do that for free.

“Yet we still find it dumped in ditches in the north of the country.”

Recycling centres

He said the country’s recycling centres are back open for business from today – and you can check online to see what materials they are willing to take.

“They are put in different areas, different boxes and the guys at the centre are really good; they’ll show people exactly where to go with their stuff,” he said.

The centres are open from 8am in the morning.