Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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427. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the modulation of fees within the extended producer responsibility systems such as a company (details supplied) in order to effect a tangible decrease in the level of packaging waste and avoid EPR contributions being seen as a participation tax by producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10700/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Waste Framework Directive was amended in 2018 and introduced a new requirement for EPR schemes to modulate the financial contributions paid by producers by 2023. The objective of this new provision is to provide an incentive to producers to design products that contribute to waste prevention and facilitate recycling by taking into account their durability, reparability, re-usability and their recyclability and the presence of hazardous substances. EU guidance on modulated fees is expected later this year. The EPR Scheme in question is considering how to address this obligation as part of their Plastic Packaging Recycling Strategy 2018-2030 and is working with my Department to ensure modulated fees are brought in as quickly as practicable to drive changes to ensure packaging is easily recyclable.