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Waste Management

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022

Thursday, 2 June 2022

Ceisteanna (158, 159, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173)

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

158. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a SME test has or will be conducted on the proposed ban on the use of single-use cups when dining in cafés, as proposed in the Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28653/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

159. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a SME test will be conducted on the proposed single-use cold cup levy, as proposed in the Circular Economy Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28655/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

168. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a full life cycle analysis has been undertaken or will be undertaken for the proposed ban on the use of single-use cups versus reusable delph when dining in in cafés, as proposed under the Circular Economy Bill 2022; when the assessments will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28646/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

169. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a full regulatory impact assessment has been undertaken/or will be conducted for the proposed ban on the use of single-use cups versus reusable delph when dining in in cafés as proposed under the Circular Economy Bill 2022; when the assessments will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28647/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

170. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if economic impacts (details supplied) have been included or will be included in the regulatory impact assessment for the proposed ban on the use of single-use cups versus reusable delph when dining in in cafés, as proposed in the Circular Economy Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28648/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

171. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the 20 cent levy on single-use cups, as proposed in the Circular Economy Bill 2022 will be ringfenced for use by SMEs in the hospitality sector to subsidise re-usable cups to encourage behavioural change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28649/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

172. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the report on the consultation on the regulations to introduce a levy on single-use cups and a ban on the use of single-use cups when dining in in cafés, as proposed under the Circular Economy Bill 2022 will be published ahead of the proposed introduction on 1 December 2022; if time will be given to consult with stakeholders on the consultation report; if an adequate transition period will be given to prepare for the new regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28650/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

173. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a full regulatory impact assessment will be conducted ahead of the introduction of single-use cold cup levy, as proposed in the Circular Economy Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28651/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 158, 159, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172 and 173 together.

The Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022 (‘the Bill’) aims to support Ireland’s transition to a circular economy by providing the necessary legislative basis for several key measures including the Circular Economy Strategy; the Circular Economy Programme; the National Food Loss Prevention Roadmap; and the Circular Economy Fund. 

The Bill will also provide for the power to introduce environmental levies on certain single-use disposable items, including single-use disposable cups, containers and packaging, and to prohibit their placing on the market where a suitable re-usable alternative is, or could be made, readily available. These levies will work in a similar way to the plastic bag levy, which has been so successful in tackling plastic bag litter.  These new environmental levies will be introduced incrementally, with the initial focus on the introduction of levies on single-use disposable hot drinks cups later this year as well as a ban on their use in sit-in cafés.

All proceeds from levies introduced under the Bill will be ringfenced in a Circular Economy Fund to support environmental projects and initiatives. The purposes for which payments may be made from the Circular Economy Fund are specified in section 8(9) of the Bill.

Numerous Life Cycle Analyses (LCAs) of re-usable cups have found that these cups have a lower overall environmental impact than disposable cups, provided the re-usable cup is used enough times and washed efficiently. The ‘breakeven’ number of uses required will vary depending on the material a re-usable cup is made from, and the type of disposable cup compared to, but can be as low as between 10-25 uses. A meta-analysis of such studies co-commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) can be found at: www.lifecycleinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/UNEP_-LCA-Beverage-Cups-Report_Web.pdf.

The measures included in the Bill, including in relation to environmental levies and bans, have already undergone public and extensive stakeholder consultation. Those elements of the Bill derived from commitments under the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (WAPCE) were subject to stakeholder consultation during the preparation of that document, from December 2019 to June 2020, including through the Waste Advisory Group which included representatives from the hospitality sector. Initial proposals in relation to additional environmental levies were also subject to an earlier public consultation launched in November 2019. The first Whole-of-Government Strategy for the Circular Economy, which was published on 16 December 2021 was also the subject of a public consultation during Summer 2021. 

The majority of the feedback across these consultation processes has been strongly supportive of an increased emphasis on achieving a circular economy. As many measures included in the Bill – including the introduction of environmental levies and any subsequent bans - will ultimately be given effect by way of secondary legislation, my Department intends to carry out additional public consultations on the detailed measures contained in such draft regulations.

Reports arising out of any public consultation process, and any Regulatory Impact Assessment, carried out will be published by my Department.  All measures in relation to levies and bans provided for in regulations subsequent to the enactment of the Bill will undergo Regulatory Impact Assessments, including SME Tests, where applicable.

Question No. 159 answered with Question No. 158.
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