Litter levies planned in clean-up bid
Tuesday, 15 July 2003 11:29
A new tax on chewing gum, polystyrene food wrappers and cash machine receipts is to be introduced in a bid to crack down on litter louts, it was confirmed today.
The new levy follows on from the successful plastic bag tax which has dramatically cut the number of carrier bags littering the streets in the past18 months.
Announcing the move, Environment Minister Martin Cullen said: 'I wouldn't want to describe Ireland as a filthy country by any means because we havechanged our ways a lot in recent years, but we still have a long way to go.'
Mr Cullen said the chewing gum tax - expected to add 5 to 10 cent to the price of a packet - will help fund special gum-buster machines.
Funds from the tax will be distributed to local authorities for use in the clean-up operation.
Another levy on polystyrene food wrapping will be introduced in a bid to make fast food chains switch to recyclable packaging.
A spokesman for the minister also confirmed that a tax would be introduced on ATM receipts, but said there were no details on the levy yet.
- 1.00 News: Eileen Whelan reports
- 6.01 News: Eileen Whelan reports
- 9.00 News: Eileen Whelan reports that gum, fast food and ATMs are to be hit with environmental taxes
- Morning Ireland: Martin Cullen, Minister for the Environment, discusses the introduction of the new levies
- Morning Ireland: Tracy Hogan, Environment Correspondent of the Irish Independent, discusses moves afoot to introduce levies on chewing gum, polystyrene fast food wrappers and ATM receipts
