The Green Party is calling for a deposit refund scheme for recyclables to be introduced to ensure as much recyclable waste as possible is diverted from incinerators.

Spokesperson Cllr Malcolm Noonan made the call after the Poolbeg Incinerator in Dublin opened.

He said he is concerned the opening of the incinerator will undermine the recycling industry in Ireland.

He said: "Incinerators are vying for the same materials; plastic in particular due to its high calorific value. With Poolbeg and Carranstown on stream and if the proposed Cork incinerator gets the go ahead, we may end up having to import waste to meet demand. It is the worst of all scenarios in a country where goodwill towards recycling is high.

-- Advertisement --

"We're calling on the Minister for Environment, Denis Naughton, to set up a deposit refund scheme for certain plastics, glass and aluminium. The recoupable price could they claim be built into the product price and claimed back at point of sale. Such a scheme could be overseen by Repak.

"Successive waste management plans for Ireland have failed to meet the core objective of decoupling waste generation from economic growth. As our economy grows again our fear is that we are moving towards a high end consumer society where high volumes of waste are simply a by-product. We cannot keep consuming at this rate."

(CD/LM)