Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 29 June 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Collection and Recycling of Farm Plastics: Discussion

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is very different in this instance. Farmers pay €160 per tonne. That goes to one company but that company does not have an obligation to ensure that the product is safely disposed of and recycled. The company has an obligation for 70% of that material and therein lies the problem. I was taken aback by some of the comments considering the IFFPG is a not-for-profit organisation. There has been a dismissive attitude towards the potential 20% or 30% that may be left outstanding. I would certainly not support a privatised approach that would leave it to the industry but is the Department analysing other mechanisms by which this can be done more successfully? This is a different type of waste, in that if it is not collected, it can land in our rivers and countryside. It can be bulky and damaging to biodiversity, habitats and all the rest of it. Even 20% can be a substantial amount of waste. What level of examination of the process does the Department undergo?

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