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Chapter 6: Waste
Waste Research
EPA-funded waste research projects have delivered
knowledge and solutions and influenced policy.
Between 2007 and 2015, the EPA’s Research Programme
funded approximately 30 waste research projects with a
total commitment of €4.1 million. Research informs policy
development and implementation, enforcement and
sustainable waste treatment options. A key finding from
a research report led to the establishment of the National
Waste Prevention Programme (EPA, 2001). Key findings of
specific research projects (mechanical biological treatment
and pay-by-use charging) were referenced in the National
Biodegradable Waste Management Strategy. The DECLG’s
rx3 Recycling Market Development Programme foundation
was attributed to the EPA’s research projects. A Waste
Prevention Design Tool for architects and designers was
developed, as were novel technologies and procedures for
environmental enforcement.
Drivers and Pressures
Consumption and waste generation
Consumption is the key driver for waste generation.
Consumption of products and services is the key driver and
pressure for waste generation, at household, commercial
and industrial level. With regrowth in the economy, there is
a risk that waste generation will increase to pre-recession
levels, particularly for waste streams such as municipal
waste and construction and demolition waste. Ireland’s
population is estimated to grow by 1 million persons in
the next 20 years (CSO, 2013), which will put further
demands on waste infrastructure. Resource efficiency
and the circular economy (including waste prevention
programmes, Eco-design initiatives, and similar) must be
kept at the heart of policy and economic initiatives to
ensure environmental sustainability. Through periods of
economic boom and recession, Ireland has struggled with
littering and fly-tipping, which indicates that an element
of our society disregards the environmental impact of poor
post-consumption behaviours. Although sanctions are
available (on-the-spot fines, prosecutions), this does not
seem to have been successful as a deterrent to this poor
citizenship. While urban communities are well serviced
with waste acceptance and collection facilities, the same
is not always the case for rural communities, although the
issue of littering and fly-tipping is not unique to rural or
urban areas.
EU Legislation and Action Plans
EU legislation and action plans driving positive
waste management practices.
Without a doubt, EU legislation and policies have
been a key factor for improving waste management
practices, driving segregation and separate collection
of wastes (e.g. municipal waste), prioritising waste
streams with significant polluting and recycling potential
(e.g. packaging, WEEE, ELVs, batteries), requiring
implementation of the waste hierarchy (favouring recovery
over disposal), and requiring implementation of waste
management and waste prevention plans. The landfill levy
has been particularly successful in incentivising diversion
from landfill and the plastic bag levy in encouraging
consumers to reuse plastic bags.
Responses
National Policy and Implementation
New national policies including pay-by-weight are to
be implemented.
The implementation of the measures under
A Resource
Opportunity
(DECLG, 2012a) will continue, including the
initiatives on regulation of household waste collection.
From July 2017, householders will be charged on a pay-by-
weight basis for their waste collection service. The aim is
to encourage positive environmental behavioural changes,
including improved recycling. An EPA research study (EPA,
2011) evaluating pay-by-use domestic waste collection
systems found that weight-based charges were the single
most effective system, prompting the highest recycling
levels, highest rates of diversion from landfill and lowest
total kerbside waste figures.
Future Challenges
Future challenges are to move towards self-sufficiency
in waste management and deal with emerging issues
such as marine litter and regulation of household
waste collection.
There was a 10-fold increase in residual waste exported for
use as a fuel in the period between 2010 and 2014. While
energy recovery is preferable to disposal to landfill, export
is not helping Ireland to move towards self-sufficiency. In
2015, the DECLG carried out a public consultation entitled
Exporting a Resource Opportunity? Measures to Maximise
Resource Efficiency and Jobs in Ireland
(DECLG, 2015a) in
response to the growing trend to export waste for further
processing and treatment. It is expected that it will result
in a number of policy measures to incentivise treatment of
waste in Ireland, which will also result in Ireland benefitting
from the associated resource and jobs potential.