Written answers

Tuesday, 27 November 2007

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Recycling Policy

8:00 pm

Photo of Ciarán LynchCiarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 625: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will introduce legislation which will oblige businesses that deliver large household items such as white goods and furniture to private houses to remove the packaging for reuse or recycling; his views on whether payment into a packaging waste compliance scheme does not sufficiently encourage a reduction in such packaging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30519/07]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Packaging plays a necessary role in the safe and hygienic transport of products purchased by consumers and householders. Retailers who deliver items such as white goods and furniture to a private house are not obliged to take away the packaging waste. Producers and retailers who place substantial amounts of packaging on the market do, however, have a range of responsibilities under the relevant legislation. They must accept back at their own premises, free of charge, any packaging waste of the type which they supply unless they join a packaging waste compliance scheme.

Currently, there is one packaging waste compliance scheme, Repak Limited, and the fee structure applicable to its members – which is related to the type and amount by weight of packaging placed on the market – reflects the polluter pays principle and directly incentivises the minimisation and reuse of packaging by producers.

Through these fees, producers contribute to the overall cost of the collection and recycling of packaging waste. These arrangements have in recent years ensured that Ireland has consistently met and exceeded targets set in European Union legislation for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste. In the light of the comprehensive regulatory regime in place for packaging waste, which promotes prevention, reuse and recycling, and the success achieved to date in meeting and exceeding targets for recovering and recycling packaging waste, it is not currently proposed to oblige retailers who deliver items to private houses to take away the packaging waste.

My Department Is continuing to work with packaging producers under the auspices of the National Strategy Group on Packaging Waste Recycling which is representative of the relevant public and private sector stakeholders, in developing waste prevention measures as part of a multi-annual strategy to deal with this waste stream.

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