Vol. 550 No. 1
44 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will consider the provision of a tax on heavy duty plastic sacks similar to the retail plastic bag tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6841/02]
141 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if there are proposals for a tax on milling and farm plastic products similar to the retail plastic tax due to come into operation on 4 March 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7391/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 141 together.
The levy on plastic shopping bags – which is due to take effect from 4 March 2002 – will not apply to plastic primary packaging, in the form of bags or otherwise, containing goods or products, regardless of size or contents. Plastic sacks containing farm products are therefore excluded from the levy.
Apart from the new levy, measures are required to provide for the return and-or collection of used packaging, and for the reuse or recovery – including recycling – of the packaging waste collected, to assist in meeting packaging waste recovery and recycling targets. In accordance with the principle of producer responsibility, initiatives already operate in Ireland in the areas of packaging waste and farm plastics waste. Repak in the case of packaging waste and Irish farm films producers group in the case of farm plastics, for example, bale wrap. In these cases, producers are required to take steps to recover waste or alternatively to contribute to, and participate in, compliance schemes set up to recover the waste in question.
My Department will keep the use of plastic packaging in the agricultural and other sectors under review, and will consider whether further arrangements are required to improve its collection and recovery. I have no immediate plans, however, to extend the plastic bags levy in this regard.
