All households will start being given three differently coloured bags to be used for waste separation if a proposed new system comes into force for the collection of packaging waste.
The Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment has published a discussion document which will lead to the establishing later this year of a new system for the collection of packaging waste, whose volume is expected to increase with the expiry of an EU derogation on the packaging of non-alcoholic drinks.
The document was drawn up after discussions with constituted bodies, non-governmental organisations, including environment NGOs, and the Association of Local Councils. The proposal is based on the transposition of the EU directive on packaging and packaging waste.
The private sector is already operating a scheme to collect packaging waste and if the private sector comes up with effective alternatives the government would not introduce its own. In fact the government is considering its proposal as the ultimate choice in case the Producers’ and Importers’ Association fails to agree on a scheme.
The government-proposed scheme would operate on the concept of door to door collection of packaging waste, complementing the bring-in-sites scheme. An environment fund to be financed by producers who join the scheme, and by the government, will be set up, to be administered by the government and stakeholders. The fund would directly finance the collection and treatment of packaging waste, which would be subcontracted.
The differently coloured bags for households would be meant for recyclable, organic or other waste. The bags will be obtainable from shops for free and will not be subject to the eco-contribution.
The collected waste becomes the property of the collector and can be commercialised but in any case would have to be carried to licensed treatment facilities to be treated, recycled or recovered.
The discussion document also includes a proposal for the collection of organic waste and other waste from homes, restaurants, shops and commercial entities. The scheme would mean collection of the material at least four times a week; its financing would be entirely up to the government.
A final decision on the proposal is expected by the end of August. When the packaging waste scheme comes into effect the eco-contribution on packaging will be removed. The government said this confirmed its policy that products entered into such schemes would not be subject to the eco-contribution.