The scheme achieved these savings by recovering or recycling three million tonnes of used packaging during the period.

Repak members are firms with turnover of greater than �1m that have agreed to participate in and fund Ireland's compliance with EU packaging waste regulations.

The 2,000 companies pay levies to Repak for recovery and recycling of packaging they put into the Irish market. Some of the larger firms are reported to pay fees in the high six figures annually. To date the initiative has collected and invested �100m.

Member firms account for 62% of package waste in the Irish market. The rest comes from companies that have, in accordance with the law, chosen to self-comply by accepting back packaging under the supervision of local authorities and those that are not complying with the law.

Repak has complained that some major firms - including Nokia and Honda - are evading their waste packaging responsibilities. It also says that some self-compliers are dodging the law as well.

Pictured are Senator Feargal Quinn and Repak ceo Andrew Hetherington.