The Green Party launched the Waste Reduction Bill 2017 which aims to to reduce the amount of plastic consumed in Ireland every year and encourage recycling.

Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan TD said: "The issue of plastic pollution is a massive challenge. Every year, over 110 million tonnes of plastic is produced. Of this, up to 43% ends up in landfill. According to the UN, 8 million tonnes of plastic leak into oceans each year. This is equivalent to dumping a truck of plastic into the sea every minute. It is now predicted that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish and that 99 per cent of seabirds will have ingested plastic.

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"In Ireland we are producing in the region of 210,000 tonnes of plastic per year. The most recent EPA Waste Packaging Statistics for Ireland 2013, states only 40% of plastic packaging is recycled and according to the National Waste Report in 2011, at least 52.5% of all plastic packaging waste in Ireland went straight to landfill."

Green Party Deputy Leader and TD for Dublin Rathdown Catherine Martin said: "Surveys show that 89% of people would support a deposit refund scheme, and Minister Naughten has previously voiced his enthusiasm for such a move. We're confident that all parties in the Dáil will support such a common sense proposal."

(CD/LM)