Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
1189. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the basis on which companies are permitted to put a recyclable logo or emblem on the packaging of their goods; if there is a system to limit the use of this logo or emblem here to packaging that can be recycled here; and the way in which this is currently policed here. [16097/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Green Dot symbol is an internationally recognised trademark used on packaging and means that for such packaging a financial contribution has been paid to a compliance system legally licensed, and a company set up in accordance with the principles defined in European Directive 94/62 and the respective national law, which is responsible for the recovery of used packaging.
In effect, this means that the producer of the packaging has made a financial contribution to a waste packaging compliance scheme – such as Repak or a similar organisation in Europe – to fund the recovery of the packaging.
The Green Dot system is managed by PRO Europe (Packaging Recovery Organisation Europe) on behalf of the main packaging compliance schemes (“Green Dot organisations”) across Europe and in some other countries. Currently, producer responsibility organisations in 29 countries are using the Green Dot as a financing symbol to finance the collection, sorting and recovery of used (mainly household) packaging.
Repak, the packaging compliance scheme, is the sole licensee for Ireland. Repak licences the use of the Green Dot to packaging producers in Ireland. All members of Repak are entitled to use the Green Dot. Nonmembers can apply to Repak for a license. Under the licence agreements, packaging producers are required to adhere to the core requirements of the trademark.
Additional background information is available at https://www.repak.ie/for-business/members/become-a-repak-member/the-green-dot/. Details on Green Dot in Europe are available at http://www.pro-e.org/.
