Ireland is expected to recycle over 62,000 tonnes of packaging this Easter.
Repak is encouraging the public to become good recyclers by segregating and recycling their waste this Easter.
A total of 80 per cent of people are expected to indulge in a milk chocolate Easter egg, with only 4 per cent seeking vegan or plant-based chocolate eggs.
62,000 tonnes of packaging waste is a 1.8 per cent increase over the 60,900 tonnes recycled in 2023.
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 per cent) 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.
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.
A total of 22 per cent will spend between €16-€25 on Easter eggs, 21 per cent plan to spend between €26-€40, and a third (33 per cent) will spend more than €41.
This Easter, Repak is calling on the public to continue to recycle all types of packaging and, in particular, 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.
