Vol. 550 No. 1
46 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the arrangements in place to raise the new 15 cent tax on plastic bags; the expected proceeds from the new tax; and the uses to which these proceeds will be put. [6679/02]
The 15 cent levy on plastic bags, as provided for in the Waste Management (Environmental Levy) (Plastic Bag) Regulations, 2001, which is due to take effect on Monday 4 March, will apply to all plastic bags supplied to customers at the point of sale to them of goods or products to be placed in the bags in any shop, supermarket, service station or other sales outlet. There is an exemption for bags used for non-packaged fresh food products, fish, meat, poultry, fruit and vegetables, etc. The dimensions of these bags must not exceed 225mm in width exclusive of any gussets, by 345mm in depth inclusive of any gussets, by 450mm in length inclusive of any handles. Plastic bags designed for reuse and which are sold to customers for a sum of not less than 70 cent are also exempt as are bags provided to departing passengers in ports or airports, and on board ships or aircraft. The levy will not apply to plastic primary packaging, in the form of bags or otherwise, containing goods or products, regardless of size or contents.
The Revenue Commissioners are the responsible authority for enforcing the collection of the levy. In addition, the regulations impose a supplementary requirement on retailers to pass on the full amount of the levy to customers, and this regulatory provision will be enforced by local authorities. The relevant enforcement officers will have extensive powers to enter any retail premises, to conduct any searches or investigations considered necessary, and to inspect or remove any records, books and documents for the purposes of any proceedings in relation to the levy.
I am satisfied that the Revenue Commissioners and the local authorities will have the necessary powers – equivalent to those available in respect of the implementation and enforcement of relevant taxation and other waste management measures – to ensure that the levy can be successfully applied and that any efforts to evade liability can be detected.
It is conservatively estimated that some 1.2 billion plastic shopping bags are provided free of charge to customers in Ireland each year. However, the primary purpose of the levy is not to generate revenue – it is to change consumer behaviour and achieve a significant reduction in the consumption of plastic bags dispensed at retail outlets. Accordingly, it is not possible to estimate at this stage what funds will be generated by the levy.
The proceeds from the levy, together with the proposed levy on land filling, will accrue to a dedicated environment fund. Proceeds from the environment fund may be used to support a wide range of waste management, litter and other environmental initiatives as set out in section 74(9) of the Waste Management Act, 1996, as inserted by section 12 of the Waste Management (Amendment) Act, 2001.
