Irish government is all set to impose a levy on disposable coffee cups, it was confirmed. The levy will be introduced through the Circular Economy Bill 2021 later this year or in early 2022. Minister of the state at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communication, Ossian Smyth confirmed the levy would come into effect “as early as possible” next year. “Precise details regarding scope and rate of the levy on disposable coffee cups will then be set out in related secondary legislation, with the intention of bringing the levy into force as early as possible in 2022,” the minister stated.
The minister went on to say that the disposable cups were single use items which represent an almost entirely avoidable waste stream. The government had banned use of plastic straws and plastic earbuds recently from Irish market. The new move is believed to be a further step towards a sustainable future. The introduction of levy is “not primarily intended as a revenue-raising measure, but rather as a means of incentivising increased use of affordable reusable alternatives to disposable coffee cups.” Mr Smyth underlined.