The Green Party has called on the government to implement a deposit refund scheme on drinks containers in Ireland.

The party made the call after the scheme was put in place in Scotland.

The party also called for the Government to support its Waste Reduction Bill 2017, which passed second stage in the Dáil in July, and will come before the Oireachtas Environment Committee during the next Dáil term.

-- Advertisement --

Leader Eamon Ryan TD said: "It is vitally important that we reduce the levels of plastic waste ending up in the environment, and move towards a more sustainable, circular economy. We also commend the work of our colleagues in the Scottish Greens on this issue too.

"We're now calling on the Government to get behind our Waste Reduction Bill, which will introduce a similar scheme here in Ireland. The Bill passed second stage in the Dáil in July, and we want to see it pass through committee stage as soon as possible.

"If Scotland can introduce a deposit return scheme, there is no reason why we can't do the same. All we need is the political will from Government to see this common sense Bill enacted."

(CD/JP)