Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

52. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his proposals to reduce the amount of polyethylene terephthalate, PET, plastic exported from Ireland; if he has considered introducing a levy on the use of virgin plastics; and if his Department will collate data on the quantities of PET plastic that are recycled domestically and exported. [55411/22]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

At present, the quantity of recyclable materials placed on the market exceeds domestic recycling capacity and the waste management industry relies, in part, on the export market to meet its processing needs.As Minister, I cannot direct waste to be kept within Ireland or that it be directed to a specific facility for recycling. However, through Repak, the national packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, Ireland aims to incentivise domestic recycling infrastructure ahead of recycling abroad by providing, for example:

- an additional reprocessing subsidy for household collection which was introduced in 2020 and is only available to plastic re-processors with operations in Ireland. In 2022 this subsidy increased from €35 per tonne to €50 per tonne.

- a stepped system in place for commercial collection with the highest subsidy payable where material is recycled in Ireland, mid-range funding where material is recycled in EU/UK, and a reduced subsidy for material sent outside Europe.

The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy 2020 - 2025 commits to examining measures to support increased use of recycled materials in packaging including the possible introduction of a virgin plastic levy. Any intervention in the market must be carefully assessed and my officials are engaging with Repak, the national Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for packaging and other stakeholders, to better understand current behaviour in the plastics recycling market. When further information is available, I will decide what, if any, action is appropriate.

Ireland is required to monitor and report on the achievement of separate collection for recycling targets under the Deposit Return Scheme, which includes PET plastic bottles. This data will be collected and reported to the Department once the scheme is live.