Ms Bernie Kiely:

I thank the committee for giving us the opportunity to be here this afternoon to talk about farm plastics. One of the Department’s functions in relation to waste management is to set the policy and legislative framework for the extended producer responsibility, EPR, model in Ireland across the various waste streams. Ireland uses the EPR model for dealing with a number of waste streams, including farm plastics, tyres, end of life vehicles, packaging, electrical equipment and batteries. These schemes have been developed based on the producer pays principle. This is where producers have responsibility to finance the collection and environmentally sound management of their products at end of life. To date, these schemes have operated successfully and have assisted Ireland in reaching its domestic and EU recycling targets. Producer responsibility schemes operate under ministerial approval. The Department has oversight of the ministerial approval. Day-to-day operational matters are the responsibility of the schemes.

Ireland is one of a few countries in Europe to have introduced legislation specifically designed to promote the recycling of farm plastics. This legislation places a legal responsibility on producers of farm film products to specifically support recycling. The options open to producers placing farm film products on the Irish market are to either become directly involved in the recycling of farm plastics waste and operating a deposit and return scheme or to participate in an approved farm plastics recycling scheme. To date, producers have opted to meet their obligations in this respect by becoming members of a compliance scheme.

Under the legislation, the Irish Farm Film Producers Group Limited, IFFPG, operates further to an approval granted by the Minister as the national farm plastics recycling scheme. IFFPG has been doing so since 1998. The company is a not-for-profit body, which is owned by its producer members and the Irish Farmers’ Association. IFFPG’s current approval is due to expire at the end of 2025. It is open to producers to establish an alternative scheme at any time and seek ministerial approval under the regulations, should they wish to do so. The Department is not aware of interest by other groups in applying for ministerial approval.

Under the approved scheme, producers pay a producer recycling contribution to IFFPG based on the quantity of product they place on the market. The recycling contribution applies to all product based on the Irish market and, along with a collection fee for farmers set by IFFPG, is used to fund the collection, transportation and treatment of farm plastics. The role of the Department is oversight of IFFPG’s adherence to the terms of its approval. A mid-term review of IFFPG’s current approval was concluded in 2024 and the Department requested IFFPG to undertake a series of actions relating to the board, the contingency fund and enforcement matters. The Department is satisfied that IFFPG is engaging positively with the outcomes of the review and we continue to monitor same to ensure that the requirements set by it are fully implemented.

IFFPG is performing well in relation to its record of collection and recycling of farm plastic as set out in its annual report published on its website. The Department is supportive of IFFPG’s contribution to the environmental management of farm plastics.