Minister for the Environment Richard Bruton has proposed a ban on dumping clothes in rubbish bins in a move to help alleviate the country’s ‘fast fashion’ waste problem.
Speaking out against waste management, he took to Twitter to say:
“I am determined to address how we manage our waste as part of the government’s Climate Action Plan.
We must radically change our wasteful use of precious resources that damage our climate. Key targets are plastic waste, food waste, single-use waste – fast fashion, plastic straws.”
I am determined to address how we manage our waste as part of the government’s Climate Action Plan. We must radically change our wasteful use of precious resources that damage our climate. Key targets are plastic waste, food waste, single use waste -fast fashion, plastic straws,
— Richard Bruton (@RichardbrutonTD) December 30, 2019
He later added: “poor waste segregation and illegal dumping are other key targets. We must act now”.
Over 200kg of waste packaging, 59kg of which is plastic, is generated per person annually in Ireland.
The strategy will target fast fashion and the disposal of textiles as well as implementing better labelling for recyclable goods and clearer information on what goes into each bin.
Apart from dumping clothes, other proposed measures include levies on non-recyclable plastics and a levy on tobacco companies which will make them responsible for covering the cost of cleaning up cigarette butts.
