Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 19 April 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Recycling Farm Plastics: Discussion

Mr. Liam Moloney:

We would consider any review of the legislation to be a matter for the Department and others. Regarding our funding, all the funding that we generate through the levy and the weight-based collection charge is needed by the scheme. That is the money of the scheme, and that is what allows us to achieve such high recycling rates. It also allows us to give consistency of service to the farmers, so it is consistent from county to county, and year to year. That money is ours, and we need it, and we like to think that we spend it very well.

As for any independent contractors, we would say they have absolutely a right to be out there collecting, but they are on their own. They are doing their own thing and they are responsible for whatever waste they may collect.