Single-use Plastics
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
The EU aims to reduce the volume and impact of specific plastic products on the environment through Directive (EU) 2019/904 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, commonly referred to as the Single Use Plastics Directive. Single-use plastic products (SUPs) are used once, or for a short period of time, before being thrown away.
The Directive targets the 10 most commonly found single-use plastic items on European beaches which, along with fishing gear, represents 70% of all marine litter in the EU and commits Member States to introduce a range of measures to deal with those single-use plastic items. The Directive has been transposed through S.I. No 516 of 2021, as amended by S.I. No. 136 of 2022.
General guidance on the scope of the products included within this Directive is available from the EU Commission.
From 3 July 2021, the following SUP items are banned from being placed on the Irish market:
The producers of wet wipes, tobacco products containing plastic, sanitary items and cups must ensure that the marking requirements of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2151 are contained on their packaging or products, as appropriate. In accordance with this regulation, the marking must contain both official languages of Ireland. This regulation is also available as Gaeilge.
These products may not be placed on the market in Ireland unless they are in compliance with this regulation.
Other obligations in the Directive mean beverage containers (bottles, cartons) up to 3 litres in size will be banned from the Irish market from 3 July 2024, unless its cap is attached to the main part of the container. Beverage producers will also be prohibited from placing any SUP polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle up to 3 litres in size on the Irish market from January 2025 unless it contains a minimum of 25% recycled plastic. From January 2030 these bottles must contain a minimum of 30% recycled plastic.
In order to maximise their recyclability, we will achieve a separate collection rate of 90% for plastic bottles by 2029. A Deposit and Return Scheme (DRS) has been introduced to achieve this.
By 5 January 2023, producers of packaging will be required to cover the costs of litter clean up, in addition to their existing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations associated with the following SUP items:
The EU Commission will be producing guidance on how this is to be calculated and we will be publishing that when it is available.
New extended producer responsibility schemes must also be implemented for the following items:
Regulations establishing the legislative framework for the above EPR schemes were signed into law on 28 November 2022. From 5 January 2023, producers of tobacco filter products which contain plastic cannot place products on the Irish market unless they are a member of an EPR. The same applies to producers of balloons and wet wipes from 31 December 2024.
The Single Use Plastics Directive has also created new obligations in respect of fishing gear that contains plastic:
The fishing industry and stakeholders are already doing significant work to tackle fishing litter. In 2023 and 2024, this Department will work with the sector to help prepare fishing gear producers affected to meet the Extended Producer Responsibility obligations which will take effect from end 2024.