DRAFT regulations aimed at promoting the recycling of farm plastics were published yesterday by the Minister for the Environment.
The regulations cover the most common forms of plastic waste, plastic sheeting, wraps or bag used for silage, horticulture, aquaculture and peat extraction, an estimated 7,000 tonnes each year. Mr Howlin said they would bring a major improvement in keeping rural Ireland tidy.
He said the main thrust of the regulations was a requirement on suppliers of plastics to operate a deposit and refund scheme for sales of farm plastic, and to collect, free of charge, used farm plastic from customers.
Importers and manufacturers of farm plastics must arrange for the recycling of used plastic which is collected, the Minister said at a reception in the Irish Farm Centre, Dublin.
Exemption from most of the obligations under the regulations can be obtained by suppliers who participate in an approved scheme for the collection and recovery of waste plastic, he said
A key purpose of the regulations was to provide a framework for an industry led voluntary recycling initiative to operate without competitive disadvantage to its members.
Mr Howlin warned companies or persons placing farm plastics on the market would from now on face substantial recycling obligations in relation to these materials.
They would have a choice, he said, in how they discharged their obligations, either individually by undertaking to collect, recover by deposit or refund, or collectively by taking part in an industry led recycling scheme pledged to deliver recycling targets set by the Minister.
A new group, the Irish Farm Films Producer group, is expected to seek approval from the Minister under the regulations. It was established by the plastics industry, in conjunction with the IFA, to operate a national collection and recovery scheme for waste farm plastic.
The deputy president of the IFA, Mr Michael Slattery, said the new regulations under the 1996 Waste Management Act had been sought by the IFA and would put in place a collection service for the 7,000 tonnes of silage sheets and wrap used in agriculture each year.
He said by April farmers would be able to ring a freephone number to arrange for the collection of waste plastic from their farms by the Farm Relief Service.
He said the minimum collection quantity would be approximately 200kg of plastic, and he asked farmers to keep waste silage sheets and silage wrap separate for collection. He added that the scheme would be of particular help to farmers in the rural environment protection scheme.
The cost of the scheme will be shared between the IFA and the plastics industry.