Latest Publications

The cover of Targeting measures for water quality outcomes - analysis of the gap to achieving Water Framework Directive Environmental Objectives

Targeting measures for water quality outcomes - analysis of the gap to achieving Water Framework Directive Environmental Objectives

Year: 2024

Understanding the state of Ireland's water quality and the effectiveness of planned measures is crucial for ensuring a sustainable future. This analysis, focusing on the 3rd Cycle Water Action Plan 2024, is based on data as of September 2023. The final Water Action Plan, which was published in September 2024, has been informed by, and includes information from, the EPA’s gap analysis of the draft Plan.

Food Forum 2023

Year: 2024

Food Waste Forum 2023: "Countdown to 2030: together against food waste"

Thumbnail image for UWW report 2023

Urban Wastewater Treatment in 2023

Year: 2024

This report provides an overview of urban wastewater treatment in Ireland during 2023. It highlights the priority issues that Uisce Éireann must address to protect our environment from the harmful effects of wastewater discharges.

Research 463

Research 463: Identifying the Source and Scale of Plastic in Compost Derived from Household and Commercial Food Waste

Authors: Percy Foster, Tony Breton and Eoin Bird, October 2024

Year: 2024

The presence of contaminants in food waste bins requires further processing of the material, it incurs higher costs to remove the contaminants and results in lower value compost and digestate. This research indicates that the amount of plastic contamination in biowaste collections is increasing and that there is a need to significantly reduce the input of contaminants, particularly plastics, into the soil from the application of compost and digestate derived from food waste. Using 50 waste characterisation studies the research provides new information and insights on the trends in types of plastic contamination. With extensive stakeholder engagement and a comprehensive review of policy legislation, the research also provides policy actors and relevant stakeholders with information and recommendations on how to address issues associated with plastic contamination in compost.

Purchase Orders Quarter 3 2024 Over €20k

Year: 2024

The public sector reform plan required that all Departments and Agencies start publishing quarterly reports on-line detailing purchase orders of value greater than €20,000. The EPA purchase orders over €20,000 for Quarter 3 2024.

Assessing the Impact of Ammonia Emissions to Air and Nitrogen Deposition from EPA licensable activities on European Sites

Year: 2024

This Instruction Note is to assist applicants/licensees in assessing the impact of ammonia emissions to air and nitrogen on European sites when preparing licence/licence review applications for industrial sites.

TitleCoverForSEAWAY-KPI-Report

Guidance on how Key Performance Indicators can be used to evaluate effectiveness of Strategic Environmental Assessment.

Year: 2024

This guidance explains how to determine the status of each KPI and how to find the relevant information. It also presents the current status (i.e. baseline) of each KPI, based on 20 case studies, and provides a good practice example. The intention is that, over time, SEA effectiveness in Ireland will continue to improve through better practice relating to these KPIs.

Hydrology bulletin cover September 2024

Hydrology Summary Bulletin - September 2024

Hydrology bulletin on rainfall, river flows, lake levels, groundwater levels and spring outflows for September 2024., October 2024

Year: 2024

Hydrology Summary Bulletin for September 2024 outlining the flows in rivers, rainfall, lake levels and turlough levels, groundwater levels and spring outflows of over 300 stations across Ireland.

Research 462

Research 462: Sustainable and Holistic management of Irish Ports (SHIP)

Authors: Wesley Flannery, Christina Kelly and Brendan Murtagh, October 2024

Year: 2024

Ireland’s ports and harbours are of strategic importance and are essential for its local, regional, and national economies. Ports are vital hubs that connect manufacturers, traders and consumers within global supply chains. Ports also play an important role in sustainable transport, as shipping is the most energy-efficient way to move freight and goods over longer distances. Nonetheless, ports can also be responsible for adverse environmental, health and social impacts such as air, water and noise pollution; traffic congestion; and damage to terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The (SHIP) project investigated methods to overcome challenges identified across the complex nature of ports and the diverse range of port activities and stakeholders to facilitate Ireland’s transition towards more sustainable port practices. It delivers a policy framework with recommendations on port governance, innovation, decarbonisation, port connectivity, efficiency and investment.