The government is set to introduce a 20c levy on disposal cups to cut the amount of waste which is produced through the sale of hot beverages. An estimated 200 million cups are dumped nationwide each year and the levy is seen as the first step in making Ireland the first country in the world to eliminate the use of disposable cups.

The 20c charge will apply to each drink being sold under the new Circular Economy Bill. The Bill has been agreed upon by the cabinet and aims to minimise waste and to keep products in use for as long as possible, through design, repair and reuse.

Minister of State for the Circular Economy Ossain Smyth said Government needs to get approval from the European Union before the so-called “latte levy” can be introduced but he expects the charges will apply by the end of the year.

“So, there’ll be plenty of time during the summer to get used to using a keep cup,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme.

“It’s very similar to the plastic bag levy. So, people will remember when that came in we were using a giant amount of plastic bags and after the levy came in the reduction was 95pc in the use of plastic bags.

“I’m hoping not to collect money from this levy. I am hoping that there will be such a reduction that in fact, most people will switch over.”

The Bill also targets the use of other single-use products and will require businesses to segregate their waste for the first time.

This blog was originally created by mywaste.ie