Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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180. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is taking to reduce single-use plastic particularly in the food and beverage sector; if he will endeavour to have single-use plastics available in compostable form; if reusable face coverings can be encouraged as opposed to disposable ones in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23600/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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On 4 September this year I launched the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy. This Plan contains ambitious measures for dealing with a range of single use plastic items, including food and beverage containers. In this Plan I have committed to significantly reducing the amount of single use plastic cups and food containers that are placed on the Irish market. In addition, by July 2021, I will ban a range of single use plastic products from being placed on the market, including straws, plates and cutlery and polystyrene food and beverage containers. The Plan also sets out a clear roadmap for the introduction of a Deposit and Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans and eradicating the use of disposable coffee cups.

My overall ambition is to prevent single use plastic items coming onto the market in Ireland and I am not in favour of simply substituting them with compostable alternatives. Our focus must change from single use to reusable, where possible, for all single use plastic items.