Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will re-emphasise the point that farmers and the group that they pay into, the IFFPG, have done what seems to be an efficient job. One does not see much in the way of farm plastics being disposed of inappropriately any more. The collection hubs and the collections from farm yards, which I understand are organised and paid for by the levy, work well. I also understand that what has changed in recent months is the ability to export large volumes to China, resulting in large amounts of farm plastics being, as the Deputy suggested, in storage. We need to manage that at home in terms of an increased capacity to recycle the plastic appropriately, which is a viable business.

On the questions of where the levy should go, who should be able to access it and whether it is possible to recategorise amber waste as green waste without going through an expensive washing facility, I will ask the Minister to revert to the Deputy directly.

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