Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 November 2023
36. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has undertaken any study to determine the merit of a refundable tax on plastic bottles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49281/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraA national Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is being introduced to encourage more people to recycle plastic bottles and aluminium cans and to ensure we meet our ambitious EU targets for the recycling of those containers under EU Single Use Plastics and Packaging legislation.
The development of a DRS is a significant undertaking and required careful consideration and consultation:
• In October 2020, my Department commissioned Eunomia Research and Consulting Ltd to analyse options for Ireland to increase the recycling rate for single use plastic bottles and cans. Eunomia’s study 'Improving the Capture Rate of Single Use Beverage Containers in Ireland' estimated that the capture rate under our existing system was significantly less than the EU targets and recommended DRS as the best means of achieving our EU targets. This report is available on gov.ie website.
• My Department engaged extensively with relevant stakeholders through the establishment of a DRS sub-group of the national Waste Advisory Group which comprises representatives from producers, retailers, environmental organisations and the waste sector.
• Two public consultations were also completed – the first in October 2020 on potential models for a DRS and the second in April 2021 on the legislative framework and scope of DRS. Both consultations are published on the gov.ie website.
In July 2022, I approved Deposit Return Scheme Ireland CLG(trading as Re-turn) as the DRS operator and the scheme was launched in November 2022. Re-turn has been working closely with all stakeholders over the course of 2023 to prepare for go-live on 1 February 2024.
