From today onwards, no government department or agency will buy single-use plastic cups, cutlery or straws for use within their offices.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Richard Bruton, today, 4 January 2019.
This means that government departments, public bodies, and schools will lead the way in the response to cutting down on single-use plastics, with a number of measures, including no longer purchasing single-use plastic cups, cutlery and straws for use within their offices.
Practical Steps
"Ireland is way off course in our response to climate disruption,” Minister Bruton said.
“It practical steps like these that put us on a sustainable path which is essential if we are to achieve our ambition to become a leader. I am committed to putting us on the right trajectory to meet our obligations.”
The Minister said that the public service must be the first to show that it takes policies for sustainability seriously if the government is to persuade the rest of society to follow suit.
As part of the move, all government departments will develop resource efficiency action plans by the end of June this year.
These plans will help staff make savings in energy and water use as well as preventing food waste and maximising recycling.
The Government is implementing these measures ahead of broader proposals relating to single-use plastic items being negotiated at EU level.
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
