Single Use Plastics
It is estimated that the world produces 142.6 million tonnes of plastic packaging every year, with the vast majority ending up in landfill, incinerators, and the environment.
Prevention and reuse of plastics is vital in tackling our throw away society mindset.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) joined the UK Plastics Pact in July 2020. The overall aim of the Pact is to support the delivery of the UK Governments target of achieving zero avoidable plastic waste by the end of 2042.
The Climate Change Act (NI) 2022 is Northern Ireland's first climate change legislation and requires the waste sector to achieve at least 70% of waste to be recycled by 2030.
The production and disposal of single use plastic products create carbon emissions. This legislation provides necessary steps and guidance of how emissions can be reduced to ultimately meet net zero emissions by 2050.
Legislative Reforms
The significant negative environmental, health and economic impact of certain plastic products calls for the setting up of a specific legal framework to effectively reduce those negative effects.
The overriding objective is to prevent and reduce the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, in particular the marine environment, and on human health by achieving significant reductions in the number of single-use plastic products in circulation. The reduction will save natural resources, reduce the need for landfill and makes our country both cleaner and greener and a better place to live and do business.
The Directive (EU) 2019/904 on single-use plastics was adopted on 5 June 2019 and is part of the European Union’s efforts to promote a circular economy and reduce plastic waste. All EU Member States and the four nations of the UK are collectively taking steps to reduce the volume of single use plastics in circulation, along with tackling the impact specific plastic products have on the environment.
The Regulations will reduce single use plastic consumption, increase public awareness and promote sustainable alternatives aligning with the Environmental Improvement Plan by reducing unnecessary plastic waste.