Waste management and prevention
As part of the National Waste Prevention Programme, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) quantifies waste from a wide range of activities in Ireland in our National Waste Reports.The management of municipal and other waste is provided for in Regional Waste Management Plans prepared by local authorities.
Hazardous waste is provided for in the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan prepared by the EPA.
The EPA licenses major waste facilities, and these licences are enforced by our Office of Environmental Enforcement. Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) licensed activities are also obliged to prevent or minimise waste generation.
National policy
Ireland's national policy on waste is detailed in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government's documents:
The National Waste Prevention Programme has initiated a range of projects aimed at waste prevention in Ireland. A range of initiatives is also under way to involve producers in managing waste packaging and waste arising from their commercial activities.