Dick Spring
Question:293 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the micron of exempted bags under the new regulations; and the actual size of plastic bags which are exempt. [4353/02]
Written Answers. - Waste Management.
The Waste Management (Environmental Levy) (Plastic Bag) Regulations, 2001, provide that the 15 cent levy on plastic bags which is due to take effect from 4 March 2002 will apply to all plastic bags suitable for use by customers at the point of sale in any shop, supermarket, service station or other sales outlet, except plastic bags solely used to contain fresh meat, fish and poultry and plastic bags solely used to contain the products referred to, whether packaged or not, provided that such bags are not greater in dimension than 225 mm in width, exclusive of any gussets, by 345 mm in depth, inclusive of any gussets, by 450 mm in length, inclusive of any handles, and plastic bags solely used to contain non-packaged fruit, nuts or vegetables, confectionery, dairy products, cooked food, whether cold or hot, and ice provided that such bags are not greater than the dimensions referred to above.
The above exemptions will only apply where bags are used for the purposes referred to. If other products are placed in these bags, then the retailer must charge the levy to the consumer. The regulations further provide that plastic bags designed for reuse, and which are sold to customers for a sum of not less than 70 cent each, will also be exempted from the levy. The micron weight of plastic bags is not a factor in determining whether or not particular plastic bags are to be exempt from the levy.