Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 July 2022
90. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the introduction of the coffee cup levy; the estimated yield from a 25-cent levy on every disposable coffee cup in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38675/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra91. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeline for the introduction of the proposed disposable coffee cups; the estimated yield to the Exchequer from a 25-cent levy on disposable coffee cups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38676/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra92. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated yield from a 10 or 25-cent levy on each plastic bottle sold in Ireland; the estimated yield from a 10 or 25-cent levy on every fruit and vegetable sold in plastic in Ireland and a 10 or 25-cent levy on disposable takeaway containers in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38677/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 90 to 92, inclusive, together.
The Circular Economy Bill provides the necessary legislative basis for the introduction of environmental levies, and subsequent bans, on single-use disposable items, such as coffee cups and food containers, where more sustainable alternatives are available and affordable. This will be implemented after the Bill is signed into law, starting with the levy on single use coffee cups. The Bill is scheduled for final Stage in the Dáil on 13 July 2022.
The coffee cup levy will require secondary legislation and regulations will be made as soon as possible after the Bill has been enacted. These regulations will be the subject of a public consultation process and it is my intention to bring the levy into force as soon as possible in 2022.
My Department does not hold any reliable data regarding the current total number of disposable items used each year, and therefore cannot provide the estimated yield in the format requested. I would however point out that the introduction of environmental levies is not primarily intended as a revenue raising measure, but rather as a means of incentivising increased use of affordable, re-usable alternatives.
With regards plastic bottles, a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will be launched in Q3 this year which applies to all drinks (both soft and alcoholic) that come in PET plastic bottles, aluminium or steel cans sized up to three litres. DRS is a way of encouraging more people to recycle drinks containers and works by charging anyone who buys a drink a small deposit for the bottle or can that it comes in. This is not a levy; the customer gets this deposit back when they return the container to a retailer or other collection point to be recycled.
