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Ireland’s Infrastructure for Hazardous Waste Needs Investment

Date released: August 28, 2025

  • The mid-term evaluation of Ireland’s National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027 by the EPA shows mixed results in terms of implementation.  
  • Ireland remains reliant on facilities in European countries to export hazardous wastes, posing a risk around management of complex waste materials in a sustainable way.
  • There has been some progress in establishing national infrastructure for the collection of household hazardous wastes (e.g. surplus paint) and farm hazardous waste (e.g. Pesticides or chemicals). However, sustained investment is needed. 
  • A national take back scheme for the collection of unused and expired medicines is needed.
  • Hazardous waste generation decreased from 580,000 tonnes in 2019 to 381,000 tonnes in 2023 due to, for example, a decrease in dredging activity and lower volumes of contaminated soils.

28 August 2025: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its report on the mid-term evaluation and implementation of Ireland’s National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027. The Plan sets out measures to improve the prevention and management of hazardous waste such as: 

  • farm hazardous waste including spent sheep dip; 
  • unused and expired medicines;
  • household hazardous waste including surplus paint and
  • the assessment of national infrastructure and capacity. 

Progress on the Plan’s priority areas has been variable with notable improvements and progress in some areas with limited advancement in others.

Hazardous waste generation decreased from 580,000 tonnes in 2019 to 381,000 tonnes in 2023 due to, for example, a decrease in dredging activity and lower volumes of contaminated soils. 

Commenting on the report, David Flynn, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Sustainability, said:

“Our report, published today, highlights a strong case for investment in Ireland’s hazardous waste treatment infrastructure.  This is needed to ensure highly polluting hazardous wastes are properly and safely managed. Ireland exports half of its hazardous waste for treatment. We cannot continue to rely on other countries to treat significant quantities of hazardous wastes generated in Ireland.” 

This mid-term evaluation presents updates on the implementation of all the recommendations and actions identified in the Plan with seventeen recommendations completed or on-track to date.

Warren Phelan, Programme Manager for the Circular Economy, added:

“The report shows some progress in establishing systems for the collection of household hazardous and farm hazardous wastes. However, the setting up of a national take back scheme for unused and expired medicines has been slow.  Sustained investment to ensure the durability and resilience of these systems is needed. Producers whose products result in hazardous wastes, such as paints, oils and farm chemicals, need to take greater responsibility, including funding for their safe management.”

The report Mid-term evaluation of the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027 - Incorporating the 2024 Annual Report is now available on the EPA website. 

Further information: Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office: 053-91 70770 (24 hours) and media@epa.ie

Notes to editor:

  • A waste is hazardous when it can harm human health or the environment because it is explosive, oxidising, flammable, irritant, toxic, carcinogenic, corrosive, infectious, mutagenic, sensitising or eco-toxic. 
  • The Environmental Protection Agency has a statutory responsibility under Section 26 of the Waste Management Act 1996 to prepare National Hazardous Waste Management Plans. It sets out the priorities to be pursued over the next six years and beyond to improve the prevention and management of hazardous waste. The purpose of the Plan is to protect the environment and human health in Ireland through best-practice management of hazardous wastes.
  • The current Plan is the fourth generation of the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan.
  • Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was carried out as part of the preparation of the fourth Plan. This mid-term evaluation provides an update on the monitoring carried out to date and shows broadly positive trends in the quantities of hazardous waste generated and exported but with further progress needed to reduce export reliance.
  • In 2023, Ireland generated a total of 381,764 tonnes of hazardous waste, which is approximately 8,000 tonnes less of hazardous waste generated in 2022. This is due, for example, to decreases in contaminated soils and dredging activity.
  • Overall, the trend in hazardous waste generation is showing a peak in 2019 when over 580,000 tonnes of waste generated with year-on-year reductions since then.
  • Of the total hazardous waste, 189,298 tonnes (approx. 50%) of hazardous waste were treated abroad, while 192,467 tonnes (approx. 50%) were treated in Ireland at EPA Licensed industrial and waste facilities. 
  • All exports were to countries that are party to the Basel Convention.