Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason farm plastic has not been collected from a great number of County Galway farmers for the past three years in view of the fact that farmers had paid for recycling through surcharges at retail level under the polluter pays concept; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that tonnes of such material are stored in farmyards all over the county; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the collection company indicated to farmers recently that, as it had collected its quota of 16,000 tonnes, it was not in a position to collect the outstanding 4,000 tonnes; where such plastics are being recycled; if there is over-capacity at such processing plants; if there is a possible threat of penalties being imposed on farmers as a result of farm inspection by community wardens or cross compliance or REP scheme inspections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27155/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The disposal of waste materials generally is covered by the Waste Management Acts 1996 to 2005, which apply to all sectors of society including the agricultural sector and is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Under the Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001, manufacturers and importers of farm plastics, that is, silage bale wrap and sheeting, are required to take steps to recover farm plastics waste which they have placed on the market or alternatively to contribute to and participate in compliance schemes to recover the waste in question. The Irish Farm Film Producers Group, IFFPG, is currently the sole approved body in Ireland for the purposes of implementing a compliance scheme for the recovery of farm plastics waste. My Department has no involvement in the running of the scheme. Participants in REPS are required to avail of a recycling collection facility, such as the IFFPG scheme, where one exists, and to store such waste plastics neatly and safely on the farm pending disposal.