Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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7. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the efforts his Department is taking to tackle littering and fly-tipping of take-away bags which are a blight on the countryside; if measures will be considered to track and trace those responsible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18433/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In 2021 I allocated €5m in additional funding for litter infrastructure and awareness campaigns to encourage people to dispose of their rubbish responsibly. The funding added more recycling and litter facilities to meet increased demand but there is an onus on all of us to make a conscious effort to leave no trace. Section 16 of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, as amended, gives considerable powers to local authorities in respect of imposing special measures regarding litter on certain operations, including takeaway venues.

The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy commits to substantially reducing the amount of single use plastic cups and food containers we use. Measures to achieve this include the introduction of levies, similar to the plastic bag levy.  Producers have a role to play in cutting down on the amount of these items we use and, under the current Extended Producer Responsibility model, they will be liable for the costs of litter clean up associated with the products they place on the market.

In addition, through the recently published Circular Economy Bill, my Department is also seeking to introduce provisions that will support the use of various technologies, including CCTV and drones, in tackling illegal dumping in a way that is compliant with GDPR requirements.