Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

424 Chapter 15: Circular Economy and Waste In addition, the EPA has provided best practice guidelines (EPA, 2021b) for the preparation of resource and waste management plans for construction and demolition projects. The guidelines provide a practical approach, informed by best practice, for preventing and managing construction and demolition waste and resources, from the design stage through to construction and 24 www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/waste/hazardous-waste/06793-EPA-National-Hazardous-Waste-Management- Plan-2021-2027-Proof-04.pdf (accessed 24 June 2024). 25 commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/long-term-eu-budget/2021-2027/revenue/own-resources/plastics-own- resource_en (accessed 24 June 2024). 26 The contribution is initially calculated based on forecast figures and is then adjusted based on the actual tonnage of plastic packaging not recycled that is reported 2 years later. deconstruction (Topic Box 15.5). Currently voluntary in nature, the implementation of these guidelines would help drive circularity within the construction sector. To trial their implementation, the EPA, through the Circular Economy Network, has created a number of awards for the preparation of resource and waste plans for infrastructure and mixed-use developments. Topic Box 15.5  Preventing and recycling construction waste by applying by-product and end-of-waste criteria Preventing material from becoming waste diverts materials from waste treatment outlets, such as landfills, lowers industry costs and reduces the extraction of finite virgin materials and the associated environmental impacts. Under the Waste Framework Directive, the by-product regulatory mechanism can be used to prevent materials from becoming waste in the first instance. There is a strong demand for secondary construction products in Ireland to support the development of new infrastructure that has a low carbon footprint. Another regulatory mechanism, end-of-waste criteria, supports the safe reclassification of waste as a material or product following the processing of the material in accordance with a set of national rules. This mechanism will support the growth of national markets for recycled materials and green purchasing activities. National hazardous waste management plan In December 2021, the EPA published the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021–2027. This is the fourth such plan drawn up under Section 26 of the Waste Management Act 1996. The purpose of this plan is to protect the environment and human health in Ireland through best-practice management of hazardous wastes. The implementation of the plan is coordinated and driven by the EPA’s Circular Economy Programme. The plan’s priorities are set out in 20 recommendations which are grouped into the following categories: policy and regulation; prevention; collection and treatment; and implementation. Each recommendation is accompanied by an ‘owner’ and specific key actions required to be implemented. Progress is reported 24 annually by the EPA. Circular economy economic instruments Economic instruments can be effective measures for encouraging businesses and householders to make choices that support the implementation of environmental and circular economy policy. The following instruments are designed to support efforts towards a more circular model of resource use. Plastics own resource. Since 2021, plastic packaging waste that is not recycled in EU Member States has been subject to a financial contribution to the EU budget, called the plastics own resource. 25 A uniform rate of €0.80 per kilogram is applied to the weight of plastic packaging waste that is not recycled. 26 In 2021, Ireland contributed €215 million. This EU-level instrument is designed to incentivise the recycling of plastic packaging by penalising Member States that produced high levels of non-recycled plastic packaging. Environmental levies. The Circular Economy Act (2022) provides the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications with the power to introduce environmental levies on a range of single-use items. New levies will be implemented to incentivise the use of reusable and recyclable products and materials. Revenues raised from future levies will be ringfenced in the Circular Economy Fund and used to support projects relating to environmental and climate action objectives. Single-use coffee cups. Nearly 200 million coffee cups are used and wasted every year in Ireland. This is entirely avoidable waste and is being addressed by the introduction of a levy on single-use cups for hot drinks. The coffee cup levy being considered is expected to incentivise the use of reusable cups and help reduce