No incentive to hold waste plastic backlog

THE scheme for farmers to dispose of a backlog of silage covers and bale wraps at designated drop-off points has gone well in Clare, Galway, Mayo, Offaly and Waterford. But there is no guarantee that it will be extended nationwide.

Department of Environment officials have said they will aim to strike a balance whereby plastic is also collected under the plastic producer scheme for collection from farms, while dealing with the backlog.

There is no charge for farmers who bring their backlog of plastic to designated drop-off points. But once the backlog has been cleared, a new system will be established, charging €50 per half ton collected from farms, on top of the levy they pay when buying plastic.