COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 13, 2023

QUESTION NO. 17

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive for a report on the New government legislation regarding tobacco companies paying for part of the clean-up costs resulting from cigarette-related waste, the report to include the process, SDCC funding and will the money paid be ringfenced for litter clean up?

REPLY:

The European Union (Extended Producer Responsibility) (Tobacco Filters Containing Plastic) Regulations SI 609 of 2022 were signed by Minister Ryan on 28 November 2022 and came into effect on 5 January 2023.  These regulations establish the legislative basis for the establishment of an extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme in relation to the sale of tobacco and tobacco products which contain single use plastics.  The EPR scheme must be established by the tobacco industry and an approved body appointed to run the scheme with the approval of the Minister.  While it is understood that the tobacco industry has submitted the details of a proposed EPR scheme to the Minister, as yet there has been no approved body appointed to operate such a scheme. 

When in operation it will require all relevant producers to join the scheme and to pay fees which will be determined in accordance with the amount of relevant product that they place on the market.  These fees will ultimately be paid to central government and will cover the cost to operate the scheme as well as the cost of data gathering and part of the cost of clean up associated with cigarette litter. It is understood that guidelines are awaited from the European Commission regarding how such costs will be evaluated and membership fees determined.  The enforcement strategy for the scheme is currently being considered by the Dept of Environment Climate and Communications, the WERLAs and the EPA.  It is not clear as yet what role local authorities will have in the scheme, however as both litter enforcement and clean up are currently the responsibility of the Council it is likely that this will continue to be the case.  It has not been determined as yet how any additional or increased activity in these areas will be funded from the EPR scheme.