06/03/2003

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

Cullen Marks First Anniversary Of Plastic Bag Levy

Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Mr. Martin Cullen TD, today (Tuesday 4 March) 2003 marked the first anniversary of the introduction of the Plastic Bag Levy.

“The environmental levy on plastic bags, which was introduced this time last year, has had a dramatic impact on our consumption of plastic bags and on the problem of visual litter” Minister Cullen said. “This initiative won the widespread support of the public and caught the imagination of people in many countries around the world. Quite apart from the immediate objective of cutting down our consumption of disposable plastic bags, it has been very effective in raising awareness of waste management issues and the part each one of us can play in reducing the amount of waste we produce.”

Total receipts from the Plastic Bag Levy to date, in respect of its operation in 2002, amounted to €9.6million. Taking into account start-up and ongoing administrative costs, total net receipts from the Plastic Bag Levy amounted to €8m. The levy is expected to bring in around €11million in a full year. These proceeds go to the Environment Fund to support waste management and other environmental initiatives. Most retailers report a reduction of over 90% in the consumption of disposable plastic bags since the levy’s introduction.

In thanking the public and the retail sector for their support in implementing the levy, the Minister also asked the public to report non-compliance of the levy regulations to their local authority. “While most retailers are applying the levy correctly, it is clear that a small number are continuing to ignore or misapply the provisions of the regulations which impose the levy”.

“We do not want to let the thoughtlessness of a minority to undermine the efforts and goodwill of the majority,” stated Minister Cullen. “Any retailer who fails to impose the levy is doing a disservice to consumers who have been very supportive of this initiative” he said.

Retailers who fail to implement the Levy Regulations correctly are liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €1,905 or to imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both or, on conviction on indictment, to a maximum fine of €12.7million, or to imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.