Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

391 Chapter 14: Environment, Health and Wellbeing medicines (EPA, 2020f). The Department of Health is currently developing a policy paper to inform the development of such a scheme, with the establishment of a national scheme planned by 2025. A nationwide scheme for the collection and transfer of farm hazardous wastes, including unused veterinary products and pesticides, is also being progressed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (EPA, 2024f). While progress is being made, these take-back schemes have been delayed and progress towards their delivery is needed. There is a considerable focus at the EU level on improving the collection infrastructure for householders, with Member States required to establish the separate collection of hazardous waste generated by households by 1 January 2025. Landspreading. The application of organic agricultural wastes such as animal manure and slurry to agricultural land is a widespread practice in Ireland and elsewhere. Organic wastes from urban waste water treatment facilities, domestic septic tanks and industrial sources such as food processing and brewing provide materials that, due to their high nutrient and organic matter content, are used as a fertiliser or soil improver on agricultural land. The recycling of these materials to land can offer an economically favourable means of contributing to the circularity of the waste streams. Organic wastes can, however, contain a range of contaminants including pathogens, metals, chemicals such as pesticides and medicinal residues, and microplastics. Sewage sludge in particular acts as a sink for persistent contaminants emanating from waste water, with levels of these contaminants determined by the influent received by the treatment facility from the surrounding catchment (EEA, 2021b). The adoption of the EU Sewage Sludge Directive (86/278/ EEC) almost 40 years ago came about due to concerns over environmental and human health impacts from the application of sewage sludge on land. However, the requirements of this directive no longer match current needs in the context of current and emerging chemicals and contaminants of concern (EC, 2023). There is potential for these contaminants to enter the food chain, affecting human and animal health and also soil health and water quality. With multiple applications over many years, a build-up of contaminants may occur as well as changes in soil microbial communities, the latter of which may contribute to the evolution of AMR in the environment, thereby posing a further risk. Effective management and treatment practices and robust regulation are therefore essential to minimise risks to animal and human health. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland published a report in 2008 on the food safety implications of organic agricultural wastes spread on land used for food production in Ireland (FSAI, 2008). A re-examination of recommendations from this 2008 report was performed in 2023, with many remaining relevant and, importantly, still requiring action. Some EU Member States have gone beyond the Sewage Sludge Directive requirements and introduced limits for organic pollutants not restricted by the directive (EEA, 2021b). Additional limits were also introduced in Ireland. Some Member States have also restricted the use of sewage sludge in agriculture, allowing its use instead in nutrient and energy recovery (EEA, 2021b). There is the potential for the volume of sewage sludge to increase significantly as a result of improvements in treatment and increases in the urban population (e.g. waste water sludge generated nationally will increase by more than 80% by 2040 as new and upgraded waste water treatment facilities are established). A national assessment of sewage sludge in the agricultural setting is needed to gather evidence to inform Ireland’s management and tracking systems for these materials in the future.