Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
128. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans for the proposed introduction of a levy on disposable cups and on a deposit/return scheme for PET bottles and cans; if he intends to modify proposals in view of submissions; and whether dates for commencement have been set. [34790/23]
View answerRegulations to introduce the coffee cup levy have been drafted and I intend to bring these into force as soon as is possible. Once a commencement date for the levy has been agreed with the Collection Authority, at least three months will be provided to allow appropriate preparations to be made, including a comprehensive public awareness campaign, before the levy is applied. The regulations have been subject to public consultation and all submissions received were considered as part of the drafting process.
A Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is being introduced to encourage more people to recycle drinks containers. It works by charging anyone who buys a drink a small deposit for the plastic bottle or can that it comes in, which is refunded when the container is returned for recycling.
DRS will increase the quantity of bottles and cans collected for recycling and will result in less going to landfill, incineration or becoming litter and, by ensuring a separate collection stream, will also improve the quality of recycled material being collected and generated.
In July 2022, I approved an application from Deposit Return Scheme Ireland CLG (trading as Re-turn) to operate as an approved body under the DRS Regulations. Re-turn is a new, not-for-profit company set up by beverage producers and retailers to meet their obligations under the DRS Regulations. Re-turn is responsible for all operational matters relating to the DRS, including the setting of registration and producer fees. DRS is a major project involving the development of complex IT, infrastructure and communication systems and Re-turn will work with all relevant stakeholders over the course of 2023 to prepare for go-live in February 2024.
