Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2025
220. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of tonnes of farm plastic currently stored in Irish Farm Film Producers Groups approved yards; and where in the country are they stored. [51805/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra221. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the amount of farm plastic that has been collected by Irish Farm Film Producers Groups from Irish farmers; the amount that has been recycled; the amount that has been incinerated; the amount that has been exported in 2023, 2024 and to date 2025, in tabular form. [51807/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra222. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason Irish farmers have to pay a recycling levy when they buy silage wrap and also have to pay for it to be collected for recycling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51809/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 220, 221 and 222 together.
The Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001 require producers of farm plastics to either establish a deposit and refund scheme for farm plastic waste or to participate in an approved compliance scheme for its recovery and recycling. Since the introduction of the farm plastics extended producer responsibility (EPR) model, producers have chosen to participate in the compliance scheme which is run by the Irish Farm Film Producers' Group (IFFPG).
IFFPG is primarily funded by revenue raised by the relevant producers who levy a producer recycling contribution on farm plastic at the point of purchase. The group is a not-for-profit organisation. Revenue is also raised from a weight-based collection charge levied on farmers when the material is collected. This encourages the return of waste farm plastics that are as free from contamination as possible, thereby facilitating recycling. IFFPG publishes its accounts annually on its website at https://farmplastics.ie/publications/.
Operational and commercial decisions relating to the use of storage contractors are a matter for IFFPG and I have no role in this. IFFPG has, however, provided information to facilitate the reply to the Question. Approximately 24,700 tonnes of farm plastic waste are in storage currently and Table 1.1, attached, includes a breakdown per location.
Details regarding IFFPG’s collection and recycling rates are published in its annual report which is also available on its website. Table 1.2 attached details the farm plastic collected, recycled both domestically and abroad, and the tonnages sent for recovery in the years requested.
