Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 July 2023
49. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the progress made to date on reducing single-use plastics; the details of plans to ban single-use plastics; the timelines for same; the details of any public awareness campaigns undertaken by his Department to raise awareness of obligations to reduce single-use plastics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34525/23]
View answerIn July 2021, the Single Use Plastics Regulations came into effect. These regulations banned a range of single-use plastic items (SUP), including cutlery, plates, beverage stirrers, food containers and beverage cups and containers made of expanded polystyrene and all products made from oxo-degradable plastic.
The regulations also include mandatory labelling for certain products, informing consumers of the presence of plastic and the impact that littering and inappropriate disposal of those products has on the environment.
A Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) was launched in November 2022 to maximise the recyclability of plastic bottles. DRS aims to increase recycling rates and reduce the litter caused by beverage containers. The scheme will be operational from 1 February 2024.
In addition, the SUP regulations mandate the establishment of a number new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. Since January 2023, EPRs are in place for single use packaging items and for tobacco filter products containing plastic, while EPRs for wet wipes, balloons and fishing gear will be in place from end 2024. Producers of these products have a responsibility to finance the collection and environmentally-sound waste management of their products at end of life. This includes contributing to the cost of data gathering, litter clean up and awareness raising measures.
The Circular Economy Act, signed into law at the end of July, provides the Minister with the power to introduce levies and bans on a range of single use items. Levies and bans will be implemented through secondary legislation. The immediate focus is on the introduction of a levy on single-use cups for hot drinks (Coffee Cup Levy). Regulations to introduce this levy have been drafted and the Department plans to bring these into force as soon as is possible.
These measures have been and continue to be promoted on the platform 'MyWaste', an initiative of the Regional Waste Management Offices on behalf of my Department. A broader campaign to raise awareness of the Circular Economy more generally was launched last year by my Department. 'It's time to go Circular' introduces the public to the concept of circularity and lays the groundwork for more targeted campaigns around selected themes. For example, specific campaigns to prepare for the introduction of the coffee cup levy and deposit return later this year are in design.
