Latest Consultations
Draft Third Update of Ireland's National Implementation Plan on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Public Consultation on the draft Third Update of Ireland's National Implementation Plan on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), December 2025
Year: 2025
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are a group of hazardous chemicals that persist in the environment, can bioaccumulate in the food chain, and can be toxic to human health and the environment. Examples of POPs include some older pesticides such as DDT, flame retardants found in older furniture, specific types of industrial chemicals, some of which were used in firefighting foam, and pollutants released from illegal burning of waste. The UN Stockholm Convention on POPs is a global treaty which aims to protect human health and the environment from POPs. Ireland became a Party to this Convention in 2010 and is required to develop a National Implementation Plan (NIP) on POPs and update it as necessary. The EPA is preparing the Third Update of Ireland’s National Implementation Plan on POPs. The draft updated plan outlines where POPs are found in Ireland; research and monitoring across air, water, food and waste; and actions to reduce and eliminate POPs.
DRAFT National End-of-Waste Decision EoW-N001/2023 of 31 January 2023
Year: 2023
DRAFT National End-of-Waste Decision EoW-N001/2023 of 31 January 2023 establishing criteria determining when recycled aggregate ceases to be waste under Regulation 27 of the European Union (Waste Directive) Regulations 2011 – 2022
DRAFT EXPLANATORY NOTE ON NATIONAL END-OF-WASTE DECISION FOR RECYCLED AGGREGATES
Year: 2023
DRAFT EXPLANATORY NOTE ON NATIONAL END-OF-WASTE DECISION FOR RECYCLED AGGREGATES. DECISION REFERENCE NO: EOW-N001/2023
EPA Draft Strategic Plan 2022 to 2026
The Environmental Protection Agency is in the process of developing a new Strategic Plan for the period 2022-2026., February 2022
Year: 2022
This consultation has now closed. In developing the draft Strategic Plan we have reviewed our purpose, vision and values and identified the key strategic outcomes we want to achieve to ensure we deliver on our purpose and vision. While we will continue to deliver a wide range of functions across all aspects of environmental protection, we have identified a number of specific priorities which we aim to achieve by 2026.
National Inspection Plan 2022 – 2026: Draft for Consultation
Year: 2021
This consultation closed on Tuesday 2nd November 2021
Draft National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021 – 2027
Draft National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Natura Impact Statement for Public Consultation, July 2021
Year: 2021
Submissions are invited on the draft National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027 and the supporting Strategic Environmental Assessment and Natura Impact Statement. Written submissions or observations can be made by email by 5pm on 17 September to hazwaste@epa.ie. The Environmental Protection Agency has prepared a draft National Hazardous Waste Management Plan (NWHMP) for the period 2021 to 2027. This is the fourth National Hazardous Waste Management Plan and is made under Section 26 of the Waste Management Act 1996. It sets out the priorities to be pursued over the next six years and beyond to improve the prevention and management of hazardous waste, taking into account the progress made since the previous revised plan, and the waste policy and legislative changes that have occurred since the previous revised plan was published. The purpose of this plan is to protect the environment and human health in Ireland through best-practice management of hazardous wastes.
Ireland's Circular Economy Programme
Proposal to replace the National Waste Prevention Programme, March 2021
Year: 2021
In line with the measures proposed in the Waste Action Plan, the EPA is building on fifteen years of leadership on waste prevention to develop a national Circular Economy Programme. The draft programme is now open for consultation to seek views from stakeholders. It is available to download here, and submissions are invited through an online form – see link below.
By Product Guidance
Year: 2020
A Guide to by-products & submitting a by-product notification under Article 27 of the European Communities (Waste Directive) Regulations (S.I. No. 126 of 2011)
Consultation Response (End of Waste)
Consultation Response (End of Waste), June 2020
Year: 2020
Consultation Response (End of Waste)
End of Waste Guidance Part 2
Preparing an End of Waste Application, June 2020
Year: 2020
Preparing an End of Waste Application