Vol. 560 No. 1
879 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans to introduce a ban on plastic food containers and utensils; if he will extend the plastic levy to these materials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1054/03]
Article 18 of European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste prohibits member states from impeding the placing on the market of packaging which satisfies the provisions of the directive i.e. which is in accordance with the essential requirements in annex II of the directive as to the composition and the reusable and recoverable nature of packaging. Article 15 of the directive, however, allows member states to adopt economic measures in support of the objectives of the directive to ensure the recovery of packaging waste.
On foot of the success of the plastic bag levy – which has dramatically reduced the number of disposable plastic bags provided to consumers, with a consequent positive impact on visible nuisance litter – An Agreed Programme for Government contains a commitment to consider extending the use of levies to other areas such as non-reusable packaging. In this regard, my Department has recently received a report from Comhar – the national sustainable development partnership – which suggests that levies could be considered for problematic waste streams such as polystyrene food containers, subject to proper evaluation. I am now considering the issues raised in the Comhar report with a view to taking forward the Government commitment in this area.
