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EPA reports good compliance at licensed sites, but persistent challenges remain across the food and waste sectors.

Date released: March 24, 2026

  • The EPA carried out 1,681 inspections in 2025. This was an increase of 28 per cent compared to 2024.
  • Overall compliance among industrial and waste licensed sites is good. However, in 2025, ten licensed sites (1 per cent of the total) were identified as National Priority Sites. 
  • The food and drink sector and the waste sector continue to feature prominently as a focus for EPA enforcement.
    • Sites in the waste sector had the highest rates of non-compliance with EPA licence conditions in 2025.
    • In 2025, the food & drink sector continued to receive the most complaints, mostly regarding odour and noise.
  • Odour emissions and discharges to water remain the most common compliance issues at licensed sites.

25 March 2026: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its Industrial and Waste Licence Enforcement Summary 2025. It shows that the EPA carried out 1,681 inspections at 656 licensed sites across all 26 counties in 2025. This was an increase of 28 per cent compared to 2024. 

The report shows that there is a good level of compliance overall among EPA licensed industrial and waste sites.  However, ten sites, or 1 per cent of all licensed sites, were identified on the EPA’s National Priority Sites List in 2025.  The food and drink sector and the waste sector continue to feature prominently as National Priority Sites. Odour and discharges to water were the primary compliance challenges.  

Sites in the waste sector had the highest rates of non-compliance with EPA licence conditions in 2025, particularly anaerobic digestion sites, non-hazardous waste transfer stations and landfill sites. Some anaerobic digestion sites had persistent issues relating to the control of odour emissions.

Emissions to water remain a compliance challenge across a limited number of sites. Corrective actions are being actively enforced at sites that pose a risk to water quality, with one site being directed by the EPA to cease their effluent discharge in November 2025 until necessary corrective actions were taken.

Commenting on the report Pamela McDonnell, Programme Manager in the EPA Office of Environmental Enforcement said:

“While the overall level of compliance continues to be good, the EPA has seen a continued pattern of non-compliance in a small number of sites. The consequences of non-compliance can be significant for the environment and those living locally. The EPA will continue to maintain strong on-the-ground presence across our licensed community to target those failing to comply.”

The EPA received 1,181 complaints from the public in 2025, most of which related to odour emissions. The food and drink sector accounts for 51 per cent of all complaints received by the EPA during 2025.  Just five sites accounted for nearly two-thirds (59 per cent) of all complaints received. The EPA has investigated these sites and is taking appropriate enforcement actions. 

Commenting on the levels of complaints received in 2025, Ms McDonnell continued:

“Odour is a persistent issue at a small number of licensed sites. Operators must be good neighbours by preventing nuisance odours from impacting on people in their local communities. The EPA will continue to take action where odour nuisance occurs, including escalating enforcement measures. Site operators must run their facilities without causing nuisance by applying all appropriate odour‑control measures and, where needed, investing in additional odour‑control infrastructure.”

The Industrial and Waste Licence Enforcement Summary 2025 is available on the EPA website. 

Further information: Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office 053-9170770 (24 hours) or media@epa.ie

NOTES TO EDITOR

Industrial and waste compliance information and further details of the National Priority Sites scoring system can be found online. 

Enforcement information on all industrial and waste licensed sites can be found on the Licence & Enforcement Access Portal (LEAP) LEAP Online (epa.ie)

Complaints about licensed sites can be made on-line or by contacting the EPA at 053-9160600.