Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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114. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there is a common definition of "recyclable plastic" in either Irish or EU legislation; if a definition of "recyclable plastics" is under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36074/20]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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115. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an organisation (details supplied) will develop a definition of recyclable plastics to assist with administering eco-modulated extended producer responsibility fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36075/20]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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116. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the fact that should plastic packaging producers eco-design plastic products to mono-material structures, waste managers may still not recycle these products and thus producers would continue to incur eco-modulated extended producer responsibility fees by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36076/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 to 116, inclusive, together.

There is no common definition of recyclable plastic in either Irish or EU legislation. This is partly explained by the differing waste collection and recycling infrastructures which exist across the EU.

The 'Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy', which I launched in September  contains a specific chapter on plastics and packaging waste, which outlines a number of measures to achieve optimum results in reducing packaging waste. The plan confirms that we will work with packaging suppliers to ensure they play their part in reducing primary, secondary and tertiary packaging waste arising and ensuring that all packaging on the market is reusable or recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030.

Earlier this year, the European Union (Waste Directive) Regulations 2020 introduced a new requirement for collective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes to “eco” modulate the financial contributions paid by producers. 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. Essentially the more the products comply with these requirements the lesser the fees on the producer. These provisions will be applied in a harmonised fashion across the EU. The Commission are currently developing specific guidelines which will look at recommended modulation criteria including recyclability, reusability and recycled content.

EPR fee modulation is one of a number of economic instruments that may be used to incentivise more sustainable production and consumption patterns, with a view of developing a circular economy. My overall ambition is to significantly reduce the amount of plastic packaging placed on the Irish market.