Trim group aims to reduce use of plastic packaging

A new environmental group that aims to reduce the use of single use plastic packaging has been established in Trim.

The local group is part of the 'Sick of Plastic' initiative, a national campaign started by Friends of the Earth and Voice of Concern for the Irish Environment to raise awareness about the amount of throw-away plastic that we generate and the harm that it does to our health and to the environment.

The group plans, with the support of Trim Tidy Towns, to engage with local businesses to get them to reduce single-use plastic packaging and to encourage local people to re-fill and re-use their own bags & containers rather than use disposable plastic.

Chaiperson Michael Breen said: "Despite introducing the plastic bag tax back in 2002, we’re taking home more disposable plastic now (in our reusable shopping bags) than ever. Ireland is now the number one producer of plastic in Europe. If we stop to look around it becomes clear just how much single-use plastic there is, especially wrapped around our food. Plastic, a by-product of oil production, was hailed as a great invention, but it has become a real problem in the environment, and research is finding that it is beginning to become one for our health.

"Most plastic packaging currently is not reusable. Ireland recycled 29 per cent of its plastic packaging in 2020, well below the EU target of 50 per cent for 2025. The vast majority (92 per cent) of our plastic that is recycled is recycled abroad, resulting in greater fossil fuel emissions during shipping and an increase in global warming. Globally, only nine per cent of plastic is recycled.

“Unfortunately, much it ends up in our environment. All around Ireland we are witnessing the effects of the over-production of plastic. Our parks, beaches, roadsides, and rivers are littered with throw-away plastic products, such as single use coffee-cups, plastic bottles, crisp packets, and takeaway food containers. Just ask any Tidy Towns volunteer."

Michael explained that the group intends to lobby local supermarkets to reduce plastic packaging and encourage customers to use reusable bags for fruit, veg and bakery and reusable containers for meat, fish, and salad. They would like shops, supermarkets, and pharmacies to make more products available for re-fill and re-use. They also intend to lobby coffee shops and restaurants to ban disposable coffee cups, which are not recyclable, and to use a deposit and return scheme instead.

If you are interested in joining the group, WhatsApp (087) 7716980 or email sickofplastictrim@gmail.com. Their next meeting takes place in Trim Family Resource Centre on Thursday 31st August at 7.30pm.

It was a Trim resident and former Meath TD and Minister for the Environment, Noel Dempsey, who introduced the levy on plastc bags.