Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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154. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to address the rising use of plastic in supermarkets and in food packaging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12949/22]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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155. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will meet with retailers including supermarkets to discuss their use of plastics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12950/22]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together.

The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (WAPCE), 2020 sets out the steps that will be taken in Ireland to reduce waste from packaging and single-use plastic items over the 5-year term of the plan. These steps include:

A Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans.

All packaging being placed on the market must be reusable or recyclable by 2030.

Supports to increase the use of recycled materials in packaging, including the introduction of a virgin plastic levy will be examined.

Reducing over-packaging and packaging waste while driving design for reuse and recyclability of packaging will be central to an ambitious approach we will take with the European Commission.

Further measures to significantly reduce single-use plastic items being placed on the market such as non-medical wet wipes, hotel toiletries and packaged condiments. This builds on the measures already taken since transposition of the Single Use Plastic Directive last year.

My Department continues to pursue an inclusive approach to the development and implementation of national circular economy measures and a stakeholder Advisory Group already includes representatives of from across the packaging and retail sector. Nonetheless I would be happy to meet the supermarkets to discuss how these measures can best be delivered.