People Before Profit Cllr Calls On Government To Approve Eu Directive Banning Single-Use Plastics

People Before Profit Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Cllr Dave O’Keeffe has called on the government and Minister for Communications Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton to approve and instigate an EU directive banning single-use plastics.

He has also called on Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to implement his motion to make Dún Laoghaire plastic free which was passed this year. 

Cllr O’Keeffe said:

“I would appeal to the government to implement this EU directive- however, this directive should be binding. Ireland is the EU leader in single-use plastics producing 61kg of disposable plastic per person, per year- we cannot avoid this dealing with this problem anymore.

“Single-use plastics are a plague on our environment and the natural heritage of our county and the country in general and should be banned- however, it is not the fault of ordinary people that the majority of goods are sold using single-use plastics. Corporations had to be responsible.

“Single-use plastics are an absolute disaster for our oceans and its inhabitants and we can no longer keep our head in the sand and hope the problem fixes itself; we all need to take action.

“I would also urge DLRCC to instigate and follow through on my motion to make Dún Laoghaire plastic free. It is so important that we get rid of single-use plastics once and for all and take the necessary steps at a national and local level to tackle this problem.”

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