Ideas from overseas

Taiwan- Taiwan- 4-in-1 recycling programme

The system includes recycling efforts from consumers, recycling industries, local authorities, and aid from a recycling fund. Its compulsory for consumers to drop their categorized waste at local collection points. Recycling industries buy the waste material to safe the raw materials and create revenue. Local authorities arrange people to collect waste from collection sites. Manufacturers and importers have to pay a fee to the Environmental Protection Administration Taiwan (EPAT) that support the recycling fund. This is allocated to trust funds and special income funds to assist private collectors and recycling companies.

Germany- Plastic bottle deposit system

It was implemented in 2006 and was the largest plastic bottle deposit system. This system ensures that businesses with more than 200metre square shop get back the drink packages. The recycling-rate of PET bottles with the deposit in Germany was 97.20% in 2017.

Austria- ARA (Altstoff Recycling Austria AG)

Set up in 1993, the ARA’s goal is to consolidate and recycle packaging waste from households and businesses at a nationwide scale. ARA system separates recyclables from non-recyclables and the non recyclables are used for energy recovery

Germany- "Green Dot" system

Its an industry-funded system of waste collection, operated by Duales System Deutschland GmbH (“DSD”, English for German Dual System). The system free businesses from abiding by the commitment under the German Packaging Ordinance. Instead participating businesses have a “Green Dot” logo on their plastic packaging and pay beforehand for disposal of the plastic items they manufacture. Participating private households put their packaging into a allocated yellow bag. Afterwards the yellow bags are collected by DSD-operated waste collection vehicles, grouped and recycled accordingly.

Ireland- legislative measures

Legislative measures are implemented to reduce plastic bags consumption. For example, consumer levies introduced at the retail level deter consumers from using plastic bags. Thus, plastic bag usage dropped by more than 90% after the implementation of these legislative measures.