Dublin South West TD, Seán Crowe, has welcomed the news that the GAA will ban plastic straws and other single use plastics from Croke Park and he said more initiatives like this are needed from business, cultural, sporting and Government. The Sinn Féin TD pointed out that plastic fibre pollution is out of control and he believes the lack of interest or action from the Irish Government is hugely disappointing to many of our citizens.
Deputy Seán Crowe said: “I welcome the news that the GAA has joined the fight against pollution by banning plastic straws and other single use plastics from Croke Park, starting from this weekend at the Leinster Football Semi-Finals. “We need more initiatives like this from business, cultural, sporting and Government bodies on this important issue. We know that plastic fibre pollution is out of control and the lack of interest or action from the Irish Government is hugely disappointing to many our citizens.
“The GAA proposes to serve tea and coffee in cups in which only vegetable-based plastics are used. This will enable them to be disposed of in the stadium’s organic waste stream. “I further welcome the plan to completely rid the stadium of single-use plastic by the end of 2018 and that the GAA have told vendors and bars at the venue to step-up and follow suit to be included in this green initiative.
“Of the 260 million tons of plastic that the world produces every year, about 10% ends up in the ocean. If we keep this up there will be more plastics than fish in our oceans by 2050. It is estimated that there are five trillion pieces of plastic floating in the world’s seas and that the debris has reached the most remote parts of the oceans. “Clearly there is onus on all of us to do more when it comes to recycling and the use of harmful plastic. Well done to the GAA for leading the way on this initiative.”
