Vol. 452 No. 5
60 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for the Environment if, in relation to packaging and shopping bags used by large scale retailers, his Department has any function in encouraging the use of reusable or biodegradable bags and packaging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8244/95]
My Department has general responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC on Packaging and Packaging Waste. Packaging and shopping bags used by retailers come within the scope of this Directive. Appropriate measures to deal with this form of packaging will be considered in the context of the further implementation of the Government's recycling strategy, to which an industry task force is currently responding, and of the Waste Bill which I intend to publish shortly.
