Request for the provision of National Litter Pollution Monitoring System

Tender description

Appendix 1.A – Background to the National Litter Pollution Monitoring System The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications has established a National Litter Pollution Monitoring System (NLPMS), involving the Department, the local authorities and consultants appointed to develop the system. Consultants were first appointed in 1999 to develop a national monitoring system and to oversee local authority implementation of it. All 31 local authorities participate in the NLPMS. The most recent contract for the on-going operation of the NLPMS expires on 30 June 2023. The Department now wishes to appoint suitably qualified consultants, following an open tendering process, to continue the development of the NLPMS and to oversee its implementation, in accordance with the terms of this RFT. The NLMPS supports reporting on key policy objectives, including Single Use Plastics that are litter items as detailed below. Single Use Plastics Directive The Single Use Plastics Directive was adopted in 2019 and transposed into national law under the Single Use Plastics Regulations 2021. The aim of the Directive is to prevent and reduce the impact of single-use plastic (SUP) on the environment, to be achieved through a framework of measures which includes market restrictions, product and labelling requirements, awareness raising and the introduction of new Extended Producer Responsibility schemes. Awareness raising The Directive obliges Member States carry out awareness raising campaigns to inform consumers of the negative impact that littering and inappropriate waste disposal of SUP products has on the environment. Extended producer responsibility schemes Under the Directive, new extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes must be established for tobacco filter products and SUP packaging items (food and beverage cups and containers, packets and wrappers and plastic carrier bags) from January 2023 and for wet wipes, balloons and fishing gear from December 2024. In addition to the costs of operat