2020
Speech Policy
Argumentation
, Speech policy argumentation
Jacques Cousteau, who was a naval officer and well-known researcher of the ocean, once
said: “Water and air are the two essential fluids on which all life depends, and now they have
become global garbage cans” (Reef-World, 2020). Plastic is one of the biggest problems of
the earth becoming a global garbage can. Every year, about 26 million tonnes of plastic
waste is created. Not even one-third of this waste is recycled, and therefore, it is polluting
our earth and the oceans (European Commission, n.d.).
According to Eurostat (2018), your country is the most plastic polluting country in Europe
without a deposit scheme for plastic bottles (Eurostat - European Commission, 2018). As the
government of Ireland, you can play an essential role in remedying Europe’s plastic pollution
and the recycling of plastic bottles. Therefore, your country should have a policy in place that
makes deposits on all plastic bottles an obligation in Ireland.
With a deposit scheme in place, more plastic is recycled. Deposits ensure that the people of
Ireland will hand in their plastic bottles and thus don’t throw them away with their
household waste. In other countries, deposit schemes have led to more plastic being
recycled. Those countries recycle between 80 - and 95 % of their generated plastic waste.
For example, Norway has deposit schemes on plastic bottles and looking at the numbers, 95
% of their plastic is recycled. This percentage is three times more than in Ireland (Reality
Check Team, 2018). Deposit schemes will thus cause more plastic to be recycled.
Speech Policy
Argumentation
, Speech policy argumentation
Jacques Cousteau, who was a naval officer and well-known researcher of the ocean, once
said: “Water and air are the two essential fluids on which all life depends, and now they have
become global garbage cans” (Reef-World, 2020). Plastic is one of the biggest problems of
the earth becoming a global garbage can. Every year, about 26 million tonnes of plastic
waste is created. Not even one-third of this waste is recycled, and therefore, it is polluting
our earth and the oceans (European Commission, n.d.).
According to Eurostat (2018), your country is the most plastic polluting country in Europe
without a deposit scheme for plastic bottles (Eurostat - European Commission, 2018). As the
government of Ireland, you can play an essential role in remedying Europe’s plastic pollution
and the recycling of plastic bottles. Therefore, your country should have a policy in place that
makes deposits on all plastic bottles an obligation in Ireland.
With a deposit scheme in place, more plastic is recycled. Deposits ensure that the people of
Ireland will hand in their plastic bottles and thus don’t throw them away with their
household waste. In other countries, deposit schemes have led to more plastic being
recycled. Those countries recycle between 80 - and 95 % of their generated plastic waste.
For example, Norway has deposit schemes on plastic bottles and looking at the numbers, 95
% of their plastic is recycled. This percentage is three times more than in Ireland (Reality
Check Team, 2018). Deposit schemes will thus cause more plastic to be recycled.
