EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Chapter 9: Waste There is a legislative target to achieve 70 per cent material recovery (excluding energy recovery) of C&D waste by 2020. 3 In 2018, Ireland’s recovery rate was 78 per cent. Most C&D waste underwent final treatment in Ireland (96%) with 4 per cent exported for treatment. The majority of C&D waste (including exports) was recovered by backfilling (89%, >5 million tonnes) 4 with just over 9 per cent (>524,000 tonnes) recycled. Recycling was the dominant treatment type for C&D waste metal, plastic and glass, while disposal was mainly relevant for C&D waste treatment residues. There is great scope for circular economy initiatives within the construction sector, which handles large volumes of natural resources. The Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC as recast by 2018/851/EC) provides for uncontaminated excavated soil and other naturally occurring material to be considered by-products and not waste (see ‘By-products and End of Waste’ section). Hazardous Waste The amount of hazardous waste generated has been increasing. Industry is the largest generator of hazardous waste in Ireland (solvents, sludges, oils, chemicals) but other sectors produce hazardous wastes including paints, batteries, pesticides, asbestos and contaminated soil. Figure 9.5  Hazardous waste generation and location of treatment, 2009-2018 (Source: EPA) Irish hazardous waste treatment facilities – hazardous waste excluding soils On site treatment at licensed industrial facilities – hazardous waste excluding soils Irish hazardous waste treatment facilities – contaminated soils Exports - hazardous waste excluding soils Exports – contaminated soils 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 Kilotonnes Year 0 100k 200k 300k 400k 500k 600k 3 This recovery target excludes the soil and stone and hazardous waste portions of C&D waste. 4 Backfilling is a recovery operation in which suitable waste is used for reclamation purposes in excavated areas or for engineering purposes in landscaping and the waste is a substitute for non-waste materials. In 2018, 526,397 tonnes of hazardous waste were generated. The amount of hazardous waste generated in Ireland has been increasing since 2012, with larger quantities of incinerator ash 5 and contaminated soil 6 the main sources of the increase (Figure 9.5). In 2018, 73 per cent of hazardous waste was exported for treatment (mainly to the Netherlands, the UK, Germany and Belgium), 21 per cent was treated at commercial hazardous waste treatment facilities in Ireland and 6 per cent was treated by industry at the site of generation under licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Hazardous waste exported for treatment, such as contaminated soil and incinerator ash, is generally what we do not have capacity to treat in Ireland. The mid-term review of the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2014-2020 found that 23 of the 27 recommended actions were in progress or completed but that further work was needed on the recommended actions that remained at risk: focused engagement on hazardous waste prevention; promotion of Ireland’s self-sufficiency goals for hazardous waste treatment; and developing hazardous waste collection networks and take-back schemes for small-scale hazardous wastes from households and small businesses (EPA, 2018a). 5 The first municipal waste incinerator started operations in 2012 and the second in 2017. Note that bottom ash generated at these sites was exported as hazardous waste up to 2020 but now has been classified as non-hazardous. Fly-ash is still exported as hazardous waste. 6 Contaminated soil from old industrial sites, gas works and petrol stations. 229