Packaging Waste Levy

Posted by Bronwen Maher on August 03, 2011 at 02:53 PM

Earlier this year the government opened a consultation process on its possible introduction of a packaging levy in Ireland. This levy, apart from aiming to prevent waste, hopes to raise between €60-80m towards Irish debt.

Today I submitted a response to the proposal to introduce a packaging levy which I hope will highlight the importance of reviewing our waste prevention programme. You can read the full proposal by clicking on the links below.

This proposed levy reflects a desire to move towards packaging waste prevention rather than simply focusing on targets for recycling. We need to be sure, however, that the strategy is sustainable, maximizes up-cycling and recycling, reduces consumer costs, provides new opportunities for businesses and creates jobs.

My proposals try to address as many of these points as possible, balancing the benefits of packaging with environmental, industry and social concerns. Prevention of packaging at source is far more complex than recycling as it not only influences the entire life cycle of packaging but also the life cycle of the packaged products themselves.

I have therefore included in my submission some proposals that include not only environmental issues, consumer refund schemes, the exemption of basic product such as milk cartons – like Denmark – and urging the government to consider other sectors for similar waste prevention levies, but that also take consultation with industry, coordination with the UK and integration of current recycling policies into account

In view of Ireland's recycling rate target of 75% by 2013, waste reduction must be further strengthened through the extension of producer responsibility initiatives such as this levy on packaging.

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