Taxes on 'common litter problems' likely

A new campaign aimed at stopping more than 500 tons of chewing gum being discarded annually on Irish streets was unveiled yesterday.

The Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, said it was time to build on the success of the plastic bag levy and to target litter caused by gum, polystyrene fast food packaging and ATM bank receipts.

Environmental groups, however, urged the Minister to go further and introduce a range of anti-litter measures, including beverage-container levies, refund schemes and other taxes and charges to implement the "polluter pays" principle.

Mr Cullen and environmental organisations such as An Taisce, Coastwatch, Friends of the Irish Environment and Earthwatch, were reacting to a survey by Irish Business Against Litter which, while noting an overall three per cent improvement in litter levels, also found a deterioration in litter levels in urban centres, and placed Swords and Dublin at the top of the litter league. The survey found much of the litter problem is due to chewing gum and fast-food packaging. Some 80 million packs of chewing gum are sold annually here and as much as 500 tons of it ends on the streets.

The Department of the Environment has commissioned a study on the potential for taxes on common litter problems.

Hinting yesterday that those responsible for such litter may face fines, Mr Cullen said the answer to eradicating litter lay in aggressive targeting of the root causes of litter and in people taking responsibility for their communities.

"If we are serious about tackling litter we have got to take bold steps. It is a patriotic duty not to litter, yet it is a reality."

He said he planned to bring anti-litter proposals to Cabinet shortly. He also noted the plastic bag levy had raised €13.5 million to date while the landfill levy has boosted the 2003 Environment Fund by €30 million. Some €35 million from the fund will be invested in recycling infrastructure this year.

Mr John Bowler of An Taisce urged the Minister to include beverage-container refund schemes and fines for litter.