Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2021
17. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposed flat-rate deposit under the deposit return scheme on the drinks and container materials markets; and the assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a variable rate of deposit under the deposit return scheme. [62072/21]
View answer18. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason the deposit return scheme regulations as published do not stipulate specific collection or recycling targets for aluminium cans beyond the European Union target rate for all aluminium packaging of 50% by 2025 and 60% by 2030; the reason a target of 90% is not being proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62073/21]
View answer19. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has assessed the risk that the stated timescale for setting up and launching the deposit return scheme may not leave those involved in the scheme including agencies and industry with enough time to ensure that they are adequately prepared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62074/21]
View answer20. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the regulations recently published for the deposit return scheme do not stipulate that an approved body, that is, a system administrator must hold separate accounts for each included material type; if he has considered if it would be better if each material to be recycled had its own collection and sorting costs thus preventing cross subsidising between in scope materials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62075/21]
View answer21. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a difference in the operating costs and possible unintended consequences of a deposit return scheme depending on whether there is a variable rate deposit or a flat-rate deposit. [62076/21]
View answer22. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has assessed the potential effect of a flat-rate deposit on the levels of product wastage in relation to the planned deposit return scheme. [62077/21]
View answer23. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of a variable rate deposit on return rates in relation to the planned deposit return scheme. [62078/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 23, inclusive, together.
On 17 November, I signed the Separate Collection (Deposit Return Scheme) Regulations 2021, providing the legal framework for the deposit return scheme which will become operational across the country in Quarter 3 of 2022.
The Regulations require that the approved body who will operate the scheme,shall achieve separate collection rates for recycling of in-scope bottles in accordance with Directive 2019/904/EC on the reduction of the impact of certain plastics on the environment and also achieve EU recycling targets for in-scope containers, or aluminium or steel beverage containers. By 2025, Ireland must ensure the separate collection of 77% of plastic beverage bottles placed on the market (by weight), rising to 90% by 2029. In the case of aluminium, Ireland currently surpasses the EU recycling target, achieving 54% for 2019 which places Ireland as a frontrunner towards the attainment of EU aluminium packaging recycling targets. The over-riding objective is to ensure that all packaging placed on the Irish market is reusable or recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030 and these measures, contained in our Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, are set with a view to achieving optimum results in the area of all packaging materials. My officials will engage with the approved body, when appointed, to ensure the appropriate reporting mechanisms are put in place for the scheme, when introduced.
In working towards the introduction of a deposit return scheme, my Department established a sub-group of the Waste Advisory Group with representatives from the beverage producers, retailers, environmental NGOs and the waste sector. Through this cross-sectoral group my officials worked closely with representatives from beverage producers, who will fund and operate the scheme. While beverage producers have noted that the timeframe for introduction of the scheme is ambitious, my Department will continue to work closely with all stakeholders representatives to meet the target date for its introduction.
Members of the DRS sub-group requested more time to consider the deposit, including, inter alia, the level at which it should be set. Following such consideration and subsequent discussion between industry and my officials, I intend to introduce Regulations, prior to the introduction of the Scheme, to establish, among other things, the level of deposit for the materials to be collected.
