Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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169. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps his Department is taking to reduce the supply and demand of single-use plastics in Ireland; the plans being put in place by his Department to reduce supply and demand of single-use plastics over the next decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27220/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy outlines the measures Ireland is taking under the Single Use Plastics Directive (EU 2019/904) and beyond to substantially reduce the amount of single use plastic items we use and to sustainably manage the waste arising from those we do.

The Directive will be transposed by the deadline of 3rd July 2021 and from that date single use plastic cutlery, plates, straws, balloon and cotton bud sticks may not be placed on the Irish market. This ban will also apply to expanded polystyrene cups and food containers and all products containing oxo-degradable plastic.

The Plan details our commitment to lead EU efforts in this area through working towards an eventual ban on disposable coffee cups and cold drinks cups and to set up new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for other plastic waste streams covered by the Single Use Plastics Directive including tobacco products, balloons, wet wipes and fishing gear. It also sets out a road map for the introduction of a Deposit and Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans by the third quarter of 2022.