The publication this week by the Department of the Environment, Climate Change and Communications of the Circular Economy Bill paves the way in the Governments stated aim to shift from a “take-make-waste” linear model to a more sustainable pattern of production and consumption.
The overall intention is to minimise waste and reduce resource usage. While the Bill provides for the application of Environmental Levies on single-use disposable cups, it also makes provision for the application of similar levies for single use plastics and packaging, and while the Bill creates the revocation of the Plastic Bag Levy, the charging of a levy for plastic bags will be created by the Bill once enacted. Revenue was responsible for the Plastic Bag Levy but the Bill only makes reference to a “collection authority” as being the body charged with setting up the new collection regime.
We have commenced discussions with the office of the Minister in charge of the passage of the Bill, Minister Ossian Smyth TD to ensure that your interests are articulated.