Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Cummins for raising this issue. The Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001 require manufacturers and importers of farm plastics to take steps to recover farm plastic waste they have placed on the market or contribute to and participate in compliance schemes to recover the waste in question. A farm plastics recovery scheme has been operated by the IFFPG since 1997, which is currently the sole approved body in Ireland for the purposes of implementing a compliance scheme for the recovery of farm plastic waste. Established with the support of the Irish Farmers Association and comprising representatives of film manufacturers and importers, the IFFPG has achieved significant success in the recovery of waste farm plastics.

The 2001 regulations, which replaced the previous regulations made in 1997, reinforce the operation of the scheme by imposing various obligations on manufacturers and suppliers in respect of the collection and recovery of farm plastics placed on the market, such as bale or silage wrap. Under the regulations, a producer of farm plastics has the choice of either complying with the regulations directly or participating in the approved scheme. Under the IFFPG scheme, producers currently pay a levy of €127 per tonne on the sale of farm plastics, which in turn is transferred to the IFFPG for use in funding the collection and recovery of farm plastics waste. Manufacturers and importers who do not participate in the approved scheme are required under the regulations to operate a deposit and refund scheme equating to a deposit or refund of €254 per tonne of farm plastic purchased and returned for the collection and recovery of waste plastics as well as comply with other onerous reporting requirements to local authorities.

The IFFPG is a not-for-profit organisation and it is a matter for the company to set a rate of levy that will cover its operational costs under the terms of this producer responsibility initiative and in accordance with the polluter pays principle. The scheme has operated successfully to date and I note the Senator's comments that he and the farming community are generally happy with it. It is estimated that approximately 8,500 tonnes, some 55% of farm plastics placed on the market in 2004, were collected for recycling. An estimated 55,000 farmers availed of the collection service in 2004 and the IFFPG estimated that over 12,500 tonnes of farm plastics have been collected in 2005.

The IFFPG estimates that more than 12,500 tonnes of plastics have been collected this year. Responsibility for the collection and recovery of farm plastics rests with the compliance scheme, which my Department monitors on an ongoing basis. The Department is aware of the specific issue raised, as it is in regular contact with the IFFPG and is anxious to preserve and continue the success of the farm plastics scheme. These discussions continue to explore options for improving the scheme, and a resolution of this and other outstanding issues. I understand the Department met the group recently and suggestions were made on how to deal with this matter. Perhaps a large amount of imported plastics, which may not fully pay the levy, came onto the market. The group proposed some ideas which will be examined in an effort to make the fund self-sufficient next year.