Written answers
Tuesday, 4 July 2023
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Wildlife Protection
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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341. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has been made aware of any reports relating to the potential harmful effects of polystyrene foam on bird populations; if his Department can cite evidence related to any potential risk to birds from polystyrene foam; if so, the steps that his Department will take to mitigate any harm to local bird populations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32692/23]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Expanded polystyrene foams (EPS) are widely used as packing,material for household appliances and in construction. Polystyrene is very inert and this characteristic causes polystyrene to last a long time in the natural environment, which poses a litter hazard as the material is typically thrown away after an extremely short useful lifespan. Plastic pollution, and its effects on wildlife, has probably been researched more in the marine environment compared to terrestrial or freshwater environments. Research has shown that foamed polystyrene litter can result in leaching of toxins into the ocean (via sun exposure and wave action), and some animals, including seabirds, can mistake macro-particles for food and/or consume it indirectly via ingestion of other prey species e.g. fish. Thus for seabirds, for example, depending on their exposure to these and other plastics and their derived additives, a number of effects can arise including impacts in terms of poorer overall health and survival (due to impaired feeding and subsequent malnutrition), as well as indirect effects such as impaired reproductive performance.
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC and EU Directive 2019/904 are working towards addressing the wildlife-related impacts from single-use plastics, including in the marine environment. These aim to regulate plastics use (e.g. via restrictions on placing on the market, promoting a circular economy) and the disposal of plastics across EU Member States, including Ireland, in order to see a meaningful positive change in the overall reduction of plastics litter in the wider environment.
Useful links:
EU Directive 2019/904 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment
eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32019L0904&qid=1688336476434
environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/plastics-strategy_en
circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/2203ac52-e11f-4a4f-82d6-a3a72eda77aa/library/915ed7a7-557e-43d1-aa5e-b050138a1de4/details?download=true
MSFD 2008/56/EC
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