Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 September 2020
71. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the amount manufacturers pay per tonne of plastic produced here; how this compares internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22793/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for packaging placed on the market in Ireland is operated by Repak. The fee that producers pay for plastic packaging placed on the market, in 2020, is €114.32 per tonne. Under the scheme responsibility is shared across the supply chain and different packaging materials are charged at individual rates, reflecting the level of subsidy required to ensure those material are recovered. Further details on the overall fee structure are available in Repak's annual report https://repak.ie/images/uploads/reports/repak-annual-report-2019.pdf.
Fees paid by producers in other EU countries vary greatly from one country to another, depending on the EPR model in place. Different countries have different markets, funding models, collection and treatment infrastructure. Therefore, it is not entirely appropriate to compare fees.
I recently launched the 'Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy' which details a suite of measures to address the impact of plastics in our environment. This includes the introduction of a deposit and return scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans, a ban on certain single use plastics (SUPs) from July 2021, significantly reduce SUPs being placed on the market by 2026, all packaging reusable or recyclable by 2030. Other measures include mandatory EPR for all packaging producers before the 2024 EU deadline and new rules for EPR schemes to incentivise good practice in waste recycling and product design.
