Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason farm plastic (details supplied) have not been collected from a number of County Galway farmers for up to three years in view of the fact that farmers had paid for its recycling by way of surcharge at retail level under the polluter pays concept; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are tonnes of such material stored in farmyards all over the county; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the collection company indicated to farmers that as it had collected its quota of 16,000 tonnes it was not in a position to collect the outstanding 4,000 tonnes; his further views on whether such plastics are being recycled; if there is over capacity at such processing plants; the possible threat of penalties being imposed on farmers as a result of farm inspection by community wardens or cross compliance or REPS inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28366/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001, producers, namely, manufacturers and importers of farm plastics, 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.

Under the IFFPG scheme, producers apply a levy on the sale of farm plastics that in turn is transferred to the IFFPG for use in funding the collection and recovery of farm plastics waste. The IFFPG is a not-for-profit organisation and it is a matter for the company, under the terms of this producer responsibility initiative and in accordance with the polluter pays principle, to set a rate of levy which will cover its operational costs.

The scheme has operated successfully to date. It is estimated that around 8,500 tonnes, approximately 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. IFFPG estimate that over 12,500 tonnes of farm plastics have been collected in 2005. While responsibility for the collection and recovery of farm plastics rests with the compliance scheme, my Department monitors the scheme on an ongoing basis. I am aware of the specific issues raised in respect of the operation of the scheme. Discussions are taking place involving my Department and IFFPG to explore options for improvement to the scheme and resolution of outstanding issues.