After your investment immigration application is approved and you first arrive to live in Ireland, you will certainly be unfamiliar with the local customs and regulations. We may inadvertently break the law, so it is essential to learn more about the rules.
On January 1, 2013, Ireland officially implemented a pay-as-you-throw waste disposal program. Under this plan, all local authorities measure waste from public facilities and households, either by weight or by volume, and those disposing of trash must pay a cleaning fee based on the actual amount of waste. As a result, those disposing of trash must now "act according to their means."
The Irish government stated that the purpose of implementing this plan is to improve the level of resource recycling. Environment Minister Martin Cullen emphasized: "For those who recycle materials, this plan allows them to spend less than before, but if they waste resources extravagantly, they will have to pay more. This plan can be said to be a punishment for wasters through economic means and a reward for those who cherish resources."
In fact, before launching this plan, Ireland had already conducted pilot programs in individual regions for some time. The results showed that after the "pay-as-you-throw" waste disposal plan was implemented, the amount of waste in the pilot areas decreased significantly, people's awareness of recycling items gradually increased, and the money paid for waste disposal actually decreased. Conversely, in non-pilot areas where a fixed cleaning fee is charged to waste disposers annually, there is no restraint on waste discharge, many reusable items are thrown away as trash, and the municipal task of cleaning up waste is arduous.
Martin Cullen believes that this method of paying for waste by quantity can improve residents' autonomy in recycling resources while also protecting the environment, making it a win-win solution.
In fact, not only in Ireland but also in other EU countries, great importance is attached to managing waste pollution. There are many methods of governance, such as avoiding the use of packaging that causes "white pollution." Many supermarkets in these countries no longer provide free plastic bags; consumers must either purchase low-cost recyclable cotton bags or buy reusable plastic bags. Over time, consumers have gradually developed the habit of bringing their own bags to carry goods. Furthermore, some countries have laws requiring certain plastic and glass bottles to be returned to manufacturers for cleaning and reuse, while waste such as paper, glass, and plastic can be sorted and recycled into raw materials, among other measures.