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EARLIER THIS WEEK, the Green Party launched the Waste Reduction Bill 2017 which proposes a new set of measures aimed at improving how Ireland recycles its waste.
“We’ve been looking at this for years,” party leader Eamon Ryan told TheJournal.ie. “The way we do things now is just not working. It’s time we introduced something a little different.”
The bill has two main aspects. One is introducing a recycling deposit scheme for plastic bottles, glass bottles and cans. The other is banning single-use, non-compostable plastics such as coffee cups.
“Back in the day,” Ryan said, “you used to be able to bring back your glass bottles and get sixpence or something similar. We’re looking at doing the same here.”
The proposals would see consumers able to avail of a 10c refund if they bring back their plastic bottle, glass bottle or can.
This 10c charge would be levied on the cost of manufacture so the consumer should not bear this cost, Ryan said.
The Green Party leader said that there are multiple advantages of such a system. According to the most recent Coastwatch survey, drinks container litter is the most widespread and frequent shore litter in Ireland.
In other jurisdictions, such as the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland, that operate a despite scheme rates of recycling in these products are in the 90%+ range.
The party also says that society would make a net gain through employment created by the scheme, reduced need for litter control and compliance with the appropriate EU directives to the tune of €67 million per year.
“With a financial incentive, you get a much higher recycling rate,” Ryan said. “It’s all about being less wasteful and more careful with your use of resources.”
No more cups
The other, slightly more radical, measure in the Bill would see the banning of all non-compostable cups from January 2020.
In reality, this would mean that the vast majority of disposable coffee cups, for example, would be banned in three years’ time.
The Green Party leader said that since most coffee cups are not recyclable, it creates a needless amount of waste.
Ryan cited reports, such as the EPA’s Waste Packaging Statistics for 2013, only 40% of plastic packaging was recycled.
Although this was ahead of European targets, the fact is that most of this plastic packaging goes to landfill.
“When it comes to coffee cups, it’s possible to use a more environmentally-friendly alternative, so it’s a bit of a no-brainer,” Ryan said.
The party now hopes to secure government approval for this “relatively simple bill”.
Ryan said: “I think we can get it. I’ll be surprised if they don’t run with it actually.
The amount of waste generated is intolerable. We need to start treating our environment properly. If we don’t, it’ll come back on all of us in the end. The government should be the ones taking the lead.
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Hope everyone has a great day, would’ve loved to have been able to go. Stay safe
Who’d have known you wouldn’t be allowed bring a Trident into slane good job I seen this, best leave it at home so
@Jamie:
No Light Sabers either, that’s may force me not to attend. Although, I can do the Jedi mind trick…..
@John Smith: I’d rather get hit wit a child’s toy than a trident to the head
@Jamie:
The Light Saber is no childs toy, it is only given to those who are one with the force. Well, that and the Dark Side, but those guys are dodge.
No mention of bombs there I see.
@Ian Moloney: You can bring bombs but not light sabres seemingly
Tridents? No one can bring an ageing nuclear submarine.. that’s reassuring.
@Fergal Barry: T
@Crocodylus Pontifex: Trident is the missile system on the Vanguard class submarine. I think it’s a fair restriction.
No backpacks or food ! It’s going to take hours to get in and out. When it rains you won’t have your waterproof cloths in your backpack. It’s going to be a long hungry day.
@Martin Sinnott: wear your waterproofs or get wet. Buy food. Crazy thinking i know. In light of recent events no backpacks is a small concession for security. The reason its such a list is that people think that the rules dont apply to them. They only have their bags etc and they’re grand. Then these are the people who delay everyone else unnceessarily arguing with stewards and gardai about access.
@filthypete:
It’s not a small concession though, no backpacks is ludicrous. Are we coming to a time where we are not allowed to transport our items in the most easy of ways? They can get 70,000 people into Electric Picnic with bags, tents, alcohol, etc, so a backpack should be zero problem. They say they have 25 years experience in doing this, so it shouldn’t be an issue.
@John Smith: In order to protect your freedom we must first remove it….
@John Smith: there’s wasn’t a bombing the week before EP. This bombing happened at a concert and was consealed in a backpack. And you wonder why there not allowed
@Martin Sinnott: hand bags are allowed, so carry a large shoulder bag…
@Michael Hayden:
So what? There have been numerous traffic accidents in the last week, do we now ban cars from traveling to it? There was a fella stabbed a while ago by a guy that carried a knife in his pocket. Do we ban pockets? The bombing didn’t even happen in this country. It’s utter nonsense and not a world we should want to inhabit. Banning bags, it’s nuts.
No lightsabers?
@George Roche: #boycottslane
@George Roche: tridents are also a big no no.
Most of the recent terror attacks have been on the 22 of the month. U2 will be playing here on July the 22. Might be total nonsense, but worth keeping in mind.
@Ladude: There’s no pattern. Stockholm was the 7th of April, the Nice attack was the 14th of July, the Bataclan attack was the 13th of November. I saw that 22nd claim before, but it’s selective to say the very least.
@Niall Martin: look not saying there is, but it’s something to keep on mind for sure man.
@Ladude: Hey Frank….is that the new you?
@Ladude: @Ian , I have done my own extensive research into these attacks and have realized that they all occur on days ending in a Y , just saying .
@Paul Furey: Paul its not Frank, and by the way if you think that blowing ones self up is crazy, making up dates that relate to passages in the qoran, and blowing your self up on that date is not that nuts.
@Ken Hayden: Haha think your on to something, look I really just want every one to be safe. I know it’s a little out there, but just trying to make sense of it and try and see if there is a pattern.
@Ladude: there’s not. Guess what, there are more than 31 passages in that book so every date is significant
@Ken Hayden: Every day will end in Y so that’s irrelevant.
@Ladude:
“Most of the recent terror attacks have been on the 22 of the month.”
No, they haven’t. Why are you lying?
Best Slane concert ever was Red Hot Chili peppers in 2003, with one of the best bassist at the time, the best guitarist since Jimi Hendrix, and that beautiful Californication intro….oh it was a magical night
@Negan: Jimmy Page was there?! Damn I should’ve went.
@Negan: agreed fantastic concert. I got complimentary tickets from Lord Henry mount Charles because I had gotten a petition together with thousands of names wanting rhcp to play. I was on 2fm with dave fanning about it. Oh how embarrassing when I look back at the neck of me. Good times though
@Matty Kineven: Jimmy Page, lol. Useless sloppy & overrated.
@Negan: Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age and PJ Harvey as warm-up acts too. Wish I was 10 years older so I could’ve gone to that!
@Conor Hall: Who’s the best guitarist since Hendrix then, in your opinion? The Edge? *snicker snicker
@Matty Kineven: Greg Howe or Scott Henderson.
@Conor Hall: Greg Howe is a legend alright. More of a Jimmy Page and Mark Knopfler fan myself though. Each to their own I guess.
@Matty Kineven: John Frusciante God himself :)
@Negan: I’m a musical polytheist so I believe there are many gods. Mr. Frusciante is on the list :-) I actually was at that gig. They were phenomenal.
@Negan: Was at Slane 2003.. chilli peppers were pretty brutal (and later the same year in landsdone too)
I am Neptune, God of the Sea. My mate Luke and I are very annoyed that we can’t bring our toys with us. See you in court lord henry
I got an email from MCD and they said that small backpacks would be allowed.
@Vinny O’Shaughnessy: really? I got one this morning but it didn’t say that.
@Conor Hall: I sent them an email for clarification, and this is the response I got:
Many thanks for your email. We do understand your request and can advise therefore that small bags and small back packs will be permitted but we advise to bring as little as possible with you to the event because it makes searching at entrances quicker and easier.
@Jeff Jefferson: cool thanks.
I assume shoulder/record bags are okay either way? I’m just worried some mongo garda will try to say it’s a backpack.
Ah sure it’s a great day for it too
So can you bring a normal shoulder bag? It just says no waistbags or backpacks.
Rules are unclear and inconsistent – I’ve seen 1 version where it says no bottles, and another that says bottles of water are allowed 500ml and under but they’ll take the lids.
WTF?
Who would waste a bomb on that lot…
Wonder did they play “Crest of a wave” …nice that Slash always credits Rory on every visit :)
No Tridents? The only tridents I know is to do with nukes lol.
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