June 2011: Proposed Government Packaging Levy

The Department of the Environment recently announced that it is considering the introduction of a packaging levy as a waste reduction strategy.  They have begun a process of consultation with industry, stakeholders and the public on this broad subject of a packaging tax.

To-date, there has been no explanation on how it would be introduced, how the levy would be paid, the possibilities of being material or sector specific, or how it might interact with the existing Packaging Regulations and costs associated with packaging compliance.

Your comments are invited: Full details can be found at the following link:

http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/Waste/PublicConsultations/

You may wish to consider commenting on the issues surrounding policy intervention at use-level, the effects of a consumption tax at a consumer level, the metrics and targets associated with waste reduction, and comparisons to current European deposit or tipping schemes.  Wider issues may also encompass LCAs and competitiveness issues.