Ms Bernie Kiely:

I will respond to the references to the deposit and return scheme. The Department welcomes the positive reaction to that scheme. They are two entirely different markets. The plastic the Chair is talking about, from the plastic bottles, is polyethylene terephthalate, PET, and it has a positive market value.

When someone collects and recycles it, it has a value. It has a very high market value. Used silage wrap that is in a wet and mucky condition has a negative value because somebody else will have to be paid to deal with it. They are two entirely different types of material and two entirely different markets.

It is very difficult. That is one of the reasons a scheme like this has its challenges. At the same time, however, it provides security. Regardless of where the market goes in terms of it being attractive or unattractive to get involved in plastic recycling, there is a scheme that bears the responsibility and is answerable for how it collects, handles and manages the plastic throughout its life cycle. However, it is not out there in the market and necessarily available to all those who may be caught holding the plastic when the price drops dramatically and it is suddenly undesirable. The scheme offers security for the environmental and economic risk that kind of material carries. I know the group would like to come in on another point.