News

Irish politician targets litter with ATM tax

July 14, 2003

DUBLIN, Ireland -- A new tax on ATM receipts, chewing gum and polystyrene food wrappers is being introduced in Ireland in a bid to crack down on litter louts, according to an Ananovareport.

According to Ananova, a similar levy on plastic bags has reduced the number of carrier bags littering Irish streets in the past 18 months.

"I wouldn't want to describe Ireland as a filthy country by any means because we have changed our ways a lot in recent years, but we still have a long way to go," said Environment Minister Martin Cullen. "All we have to do is look down on our streets, our footpaths, our pavements right across the country."

Cullen said the chewing gum tax -- expected to add three pence (4.2 cents) to seven pence (9.9 cents) to the price of a packet -- will help fund special "gum-buster" machines.

"It is costing local authorities millions every year to clean this up, and I feel we have to have a polluter paid principle on this where the people who use chewing gum should pay a small tax," he said.

Another levy on polystyrene food wrapping will be introduced in a bid to make fast food chains switch to recyclable packaging.

A spokesman for the minister confirmed that a tax would be introduced on ATM receipts, but said there were no details on that levy yet.