Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The regulation of textiles has become a priority focus for the EU in recent years. There are two significant pieces of relevant legislation in development or recently implemented. First, since 1 January 2025, the waste framework directive requires all member states to have a separate collection system for textiles. Ireland's system consists of a network of local authority and charity bring banks, charity retail shops and private bring banks. Some retailers also operate take-back schemes in their stores. This system requires substantial enhancement to align with circular economy principles. To this end, my Department is developing Ireland's first national policy statement and roadmap on circular textiles. This document, which has been prepared with input from the Textiles Advisory Group, will set out how we enhance our separate collection system, and it will be launched for public consultation in the coming weeks.

Second, in July 2023, the European Commission proposed a further revision of the waste framework directive requiring the introduction of an extended producer responsibility, EPR, scheme for textiles. The key objective of the proposed EPR scheme is to apply the “polluter pays” principle to placing textiles on the market while creating a sustainable scheme for used textile collection, sorting, reuse and recycling. While agreement is yet to be confirmed by the European Council and Parliament, it is expected to be adopted in July and an EPR scheme for textiles should become mandatory by 2028. My Department has already started the foundational work with the sector.

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