Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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75. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to polling by an organisation (details supplied) showing that 63% of the public would rather the Government prioritise the development of recycling services over the implementation of a paper cup ban; the steps that the Government is taking to invest in effective collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure to support the circular economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63476/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Every year, 200 million single use cups are disposed of in Ireland, an entirely avoidable waste. The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy sets how we will tackle this waste stream, including the introduction of a single use disposable cup levy, to be followed by an eventual ban.

EPA studies of public attitudes to single use plastics between 2019 and 2021 have shown there is strong public support for policy incentives reducing single use plastic products, with 73% supporting a ban on their production & sale and 64% supporting the introduction of a levy.

Regulations for an environmental levy on single use disposable cups for hot drinks are now being introduced. The purpose of the levy is to incentivise people to choose to re-use and reduce single use waste. The levy will apply to all single use cups containing hot beverages.

A public consultation on the introduction of this levy was carried out by my Department in late 2022.   In total, the Department received more than 2,300 responses. Overall, responses from the public were very positive and, along with those received from industry and other stakeholders, will be considered before the regulations are signed.

The prevention of waste through reuse is a national and EU policy priority.  Recycling, while less efficient environmentally, continues to have an important role as a waste treatment option currently.  Legal obligations on the producers of waste such as packaging, drives investment in collection and recycling infrastructure. 

My officials are currently preparing legislation which will introduce mandatory waste segregation and incentivised waste collection charges in the commercial sector, similar to the household sector, to ensure waste minimisation and proper waste segregation. Improved recycling of commercial waste will benefit not just the environment but will improve the viability of recycling infrastructure and reduce waste costs for business.