The Workers’ Party have today (Wednesday) issued a call for a series of measures to force retailers to reduce plastic packaging. The call comes in the wake of new recycling charges announced by Panda waste collection company today.

Cllr. Éilis Ryan, Workers’ Party said the new charges were totally predictable:
“Once you put private companies in charge of something, they are only interested in profit, and it was blindingly obvious that China’s decision to stop importing European plastic waste would have this effect. Panda had to find a new source of profit – charging customers.”

Cllr. Ryan argued that charging householders for waste misses the real culprit:
“The majority of plastic produced in Ireland is in packaging of basic goods. But individual purchasers can’t control how much excess plastic is placed on what they buy. If the apples in my local supermarket come covered in plastic, I have to buy them – I don’t have any other option.

“So, from an environmental point of view, if we really want to tackle plastic pollution, we need to tackle the producers – the big manufacturers and retailers responsible for creating so much plastic packaging.”

Cllr. Ryan suggested two major measures should be introduced:
“Firstly, we need the urgent introduction of waste disposal units across Ireland’s five major retailers – paid for and managed by the retailer – where consumers can dispose of their plastic waste.

“Secondly, the government should draw up a list of food stuffs where plastic packaging is warranted – because of hygiene or food safety concerns – and, for all other foods, introduce a phased series of fines for manufacturers and retailers who do not transition away from plastic.”

Cllr. Ryan concluded:
“What this proves yet again is that, if we leave waste collection in the hands of private companies, we will get increased fees, and no environmental improvement whatsoever.”