Proposals for a ban on single-use plastics items and a “latte levy” to promote use of compostable coffee cups were not properly costed and “poorly evaluated”, a retail group has claimed. The committee was examining proposals contained in the Green Party’s 2017 Waste Reduction Bill to ban plastic cups, plates and cutlery and to establish a deposit/refund scheme for plastic, glass and aluminium drinks containers. It also proposes a ban on single-use, non-compostable coffee cups. With millions of coffee cups being produced every day in Ireland, and retailers acting as “a conduit” for such material, there was clearly a problem, Mr Jennings said. Eamon Ryan of the Green Party said the prime consideration of the Bill was “single-use plastic”.

Source: The Irish Times January 23, 2018 19:41 UTC