An enforcement blitz by
Donegal County Council waste officers in the border
counties this summer revealed a "very high" level of
compliance among retailers selling silage wrap, the
local authority has said.
The initiative saw over 30 inspections carried out
including many in Donegal. The law requires
retailers to charge a recycling levy of €2.35 per
roll of wrap they sell.
Waste Regulations Officer with Donegal County
Council Dearn McClintock said there was an
increasing trend among silage contractors to move
away from supplying wrap to customers.
“However, it was considered that the current
strength of sterling was a significant contributory
factor to high compliance this year. This is because
illegal traders in the south, who usually source
their product north of the border, found it
difficult to acquire product at the right price this
year,” said Mr McClintock.
Border enforcement officers working with the Irish
Farm Film Producers Group (IFFPG) visited wrap
retailers throughout the border region between May
and July to ensure they were charging the recycling
levy.
The levy is used by IFFPG to fund the recycling of
the plastic after it is used. The blitz saw agri-merchants
and silage contractors targeted in counties Leitrim,
Cavan, Monaghan, Louth as well as Donegal. In the
case of some inspections, Revenue officials
accompanied council officers to ensure that
retailers were VAT compliant. |
