Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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78. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the roll-out of a deposit return system for plastic bottles and aluminium cans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34289/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, launched last September, sets out a clear roadmap for the introduction of a Deposit and Return Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles and aluminium cans in the third quarter of 2022.

This process began with the launch of a public consultation on the design of a DRS for Ireland in October 2020. A second consultation seeking views on the legislative framework to underpin the scheme was completed on 7 May 2021. The final legislative framework will be introduced in the coming weeks.

A working group, chaired by my Department and consisting of beverage producers, retailers, eNGOs and waste collectors, is working to progress the design of the system for introduction by the date set out in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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79. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of recycling centres have decided to stop accepting soft plastics and bulky items for recycling from the general public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34303/21]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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80. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of soft plastic that is generated in Ireland each year; the reason it is no longer recycled in recycling centres across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34304/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together.

While waste management planning, including with regard to infrastructure provision such as civic amenity sites, is the responsibility of local authorities under Part II of the Waste Management Act, 1996 (as amended), the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, which was launched by Minister Ryan in September 2020, contains a commitment to formalise the role of civic amenity sites and agree a standard list of waste streams to be accepted at such sites. In this regard the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices, with support from my Department, have recently published a National Review of Civic Amenity Sites, which is available online at  www.southernwasteregion.ie/content/national-review-civic-amenity-sites.

Discussions have commenced with the local authority sector on implementation of the report recommendations.  This will allow civic amenity sites to play a greater role in our transition to a more circular economy through measures such as coordinated education and awareness programmes, greater use of reuse schemes, standardising a list of waste streams accepted at such sites and collective approaches to extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, and will assist in continuing to reduce the amount of waste disposed of to landfills.

In addition the Waste Action Plancontains a commitment to revisit the existing national standardised recycling list of items accepted in the household mixed dry recyclable bin with a view to capturing more recyclable material, including soft plastics. My Department officials are currently working to advance this commitment and I look forward to making an announcement in relation to this in due course.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for the collation of national waste data and reports annually on Ireland’s performance against the targets set out in EU and national legislation.  Reports indicate Ireland is achieving or is on course to achieve all our EU waste targets. Further information is available at www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/waste/national-waste-statistics/.

The Government wants to build on this strong performance. AWaste Action Plan for a Circular Economyrepresents a step change in our approach to waste in Ireland, as it shifts the focus away from management to a fuller reconsideration of how we use resources and materials.  The measures in the Plan are intended to minimise the amount of waste generated, eliminating waste before it can be created and diverting as much as possible to beneficial reuse or recovery and will help us deliver on our national targets.