Press Release: Environment  14 June 2006

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The Green Party has called on Government to take the lead in tackling Ireland’s abysmal record on waste production.
A report from Forfás reveals that Ireland was the worst country of ten surveyed in terms of waste per person.

The Forfás Waste Management Benchmarking Report highlights growing waste generation and the weakness of domestic recycling infrastructure. It shows that Irish individuals produced more waste on average per year than any of the countries studied, and we have to export much of our waste. 

Ciarán Cuffe Green Party Environment spokesperson said: 

“The responsibility for our poor record on waste lies with Government.  The Minister for the Environment Dick Roche should provide the solutions to this crisis.   

“He can take action to reduce, reuse and recycle our waste. In the short term he should double the plastic bag levy to thirty cent, as it is losing its effectiveness. He should also ensure that shops are complying with the law as people are telling us that they are receiving bags without charge. He should also introduce a beverage container charge to ensure that bottles and cans are re-used.  

“In the longer term he should set up a waste management agency that could provide start-up grants for companies making products out of recycled material. There is great potential to make jobs and profits out of reusing our waste here at home instead of exporting it. 

“He must also regulate to ensure that waste production such as packaging is minimised. Why is soap sold wrapped in plastic, and then placed in a cardboard box that is in turn wrapped in plastic and placed in a paper bag? 

“Finally he must also regulate private waste operators. Ireland is almost unique among the benchmark countries in having private services directly involved in the collection of waste without any municipal involvement in establishing the contract and determining what happens to the waste.