Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 6

Written Answers. - Plastic Silage Wrap.

Seán Doherty

Ceist:

53 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to develop facilities for the recycling or re-use of plastic silage wrap in view of a report commissioned by the Department of the Environment highlighting the increasing costs to farmers of plastic silage wrap and the detrimental effects of plastic on the environment. [11267/95]

John Browne

Ceist:

54 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to develop facilities for the recycling or re-use of plastic silage wrap in view of a report commissioned by the Department of the Environment highlighting the increasing costs to farmers of plastic silage wrap and the detrimental effects of plastic on the environment. [11269/95]

Ben Briscoe

Ceist:

60 Mr. Briscoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to develop facilities for the recycling or re-use of plastic silage wrap in view of a report commissioned by the Department of the Environment highlighting the increasing costs to farmers of plastic silage wrap and the detrimental effects of plastic on the environment. [11268/95]

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

188 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the level of growth and the current quantity of plastic generated by the baling of silage in plastic wrappers throughout the country. [11294/95]

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

189 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry his views on the nuisance for farmers and additional burden on landfill sites as a result of the proliferation of used plastic silage wraps; and if he will provide necessary assistance to ensure such plastic is recycled or if possible reused rather than being legally or more often illegally dumped or burnt. [11295/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 54, 60, 188 and 189 together.

I am aware of the growing use of plastic wrapped silage by farmers and the problems which the disposal of such plastic can create. My officials advise farmers to collect and store all plastic on the farm and reuse as much of it as possible. Plastic film used to bale silage cannot be reused and should be disposed of in approved landfill sites. In this regard, participants in the rural environment protection scheme — REPS — operated by my Department are required to dispose of all unusable plastic in this manner.

A study carried out under the STRIDE Operational Programme for Ireland 1991-1993 into the feasibility of recycling plastic sheeting used in the agricultural sector established that the heavy contamination of such material when used in agriculture mitigates against successful recycling. The study concluded that under current economic conditions, including poor market outlets, variation of degree of contamination and high waste collection costs polythene film recycling is not economically viable. The study also showed that of the 33,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste produced in Ireland each year 4,000 tonnes is plastic wrap for agriculture.

I have no plans for further research into this subject at present.