The Government is being urged to take "strong action on a national level" to tackle plastic waste.

The Green Party made the call following the publication of the European Union's first strategy to tackle plastic waste.

Party Leader Eamon Ryan TD welcomed the publication of the strategy, which calls for all plastic packaging in the EU to be recyclable by 2030.

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He said: "The Irish Government now needs to take strong action on a national level to tackle plastic waste. Switching from a throw-away plastic culture will allow us switch to a new circular economy which delivers new jobs as well as cutting pollution.

"The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and the Environment will meet tomorrow to review the Green Party's Waste Reduction Bill. The timing of the report could not be better as we seek to end the use of plastic disposable cups, single use plastics, and introduce a refund scheme for plastic bottles and other containers. The Government now needs to change tack and support our bill which is in tune with European policy."

(CD/LM)