National Waste Prevention Programme
National Waste Report 2008
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
An Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil
PO Box 3000, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford, Ireland
Telephone: +353 53 916 0600
Fax: +353 53 916 0699
Email: [email protected] Website: www.epa.ie
LoCall 1890 33 55 99
© Environmental Protection Agency 2009
All or part of this publication may be reproduced without further permission, provided the
source is acknowledged.
National Waste Report 2008
Published by the Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland
This document does not purport to be and should not be considered a legal interpretation of the
legislation referred to herein.
Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the material contained in
this publication, complete accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Neither the Environmental
Protection Agency nor the authors accept any responsibility whatsoever for loss or damage
occasioned, or claimed to have been occasioned, in part or in full as a consequence of any
person acting or refraining from acting, as a result of a matter contained in this publication.
All or part of this publication may be reproduced without further permission, provided the
source is acknowledged.
Authors:
Fiona McCoole, Dr. Jonathan Derham, Dr. Isabelle Kurz, Dr. Tara Higgins
ISBN: 978-1-84095-336-7
Price: €20
11/09/450
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
iv
List of terms
v
Executive summary, conclusions and recommendations
viii
1
Introduction
1
2
Generation of municipal waste
7
3
Management of municipal waste
10
4
Biodegradable municipal waste
19
5
Packaging waste
25
6
Waste electrical and electronic equipment
28
7
Construction and demolition waste
29
8
Industrial waste
31
9
Hazardous waste
39
10
Waste infrastructure and collections
46
APPENDICES
52
Appendix A – Indicators
53
Appendix B – Household waste
54
Appendix C – Waste types collected at bring banks
56
Appendix D – Waste types collected at civic amenity sites
57
Appendix E – Landfills in operation
59
Appendix F – Biodegradable waste calculations
61
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The cooperation of all respondents to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2008 waste data
questionnaires and respondents‟ assistance with queries during the validation of data for this report is
gratefully acknowledged. We would particularly like to acknowledge the time and assistance provided by local
authorities, recovery and waste facility operators, landfill operators, hazardous waste treatment facility
operators and industrial enterprises. We are indebted to our colleagues in the Office of Environmental
Enforcement for their part in obtaining and verifying waste data submitted by EPA-licensed facilities1. The
assistance of other EPA colleagues who helped with the preparation of this report is also gratefully
acknowledged.
Acknowledgement is also due to Enviros Consulting Limited, who worked on behalf of the EPA in the
collection, compilation and validation of the waste data for 2008 submitted by local authorities, recovery
operators, hazardous waste treatment facilities, landfills and industry.
The assistance of staff in a number of other organisations is also acknowledged, including the National
TransFrontier Shipment (TFS) Office, Repak, WEEE Ireland, the European Recycling Platform (ERP), the
Central Statistics Office (CSO), and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
(DEHLG).
1
Data from Annual Environmental Reports (AERs) and Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR).
iv
LIST OF TERMS
An Annual Environmental Report (AER) must be submitted to the EPA each year by waste-licensed and
IPPC-licensed companies, providing summary information on all aspects of the environmental performance of
the licensed facility e.g. data on emissions to air and water, waste management, resource consumption,
objectives and targets, and complaints. AERs are made publicly available on the EPA website. Local
authorities also require AERs from all waste collection permit (WCP) and waste permit (WP) holders.
‘2-bin or 3-bin system’ refers to a source segregated collection system where dry recyclables and residual
wastes are separately collected (2-bin system), or where dry recyclables, organics and residuals are
separately collected (3-bin system). The reference to ‘black bin’ in this document is a reference to a single bin
collection or to the residuals bin from a 2-bin or 3-bin system. The reference to ‘green bin’ in this document is
a reference to the dry recyclables collection, and ‘brown bin’ is a reference to the organics bin collection.
‘Biodegradable’ (in the context of waste) means waste that is capable of undergoing anaerobic or aerobic
decomposition, such as food and garden waste, paper and cardboard etc.
‘Biodegradable municipal waste’ (BMW) means the biodegradable component of municipal waste, and does
not include biostabilised waste. Biodegradable municipal waste is typically composed of food and garden
waste, wood, paper, cardboard and textiles.
‘Biostabilised residual waste’ means residual BMW that has been treated to achieve an EPA-approved
biodegradability stability standard prior to landfilling or alternative agreed use. (Not a compost product
standard as understood by EU 1774/2002).
‘Biowaste’ means biodegradable garden and park waste, food and kitchen waste from households,
restaurants, caterers and retail premises and comparable waste from food processing plants.
‘Commercial waste’, in the context of this report, is a term used to describe the non-household fraction of
municipal waste, which is produced by commercial premises such as shops, offices and restaurants, as well
as municipal premises such as schools, hospitals etc. It also includes non-process industrial waste arising
from factory canteens, offices etc. Commercial waste is broadly similar in composition to household waste,
consisting of a mixture of paper and cardboard, plastics, organics, metal and glass.
Construction and demolition (C&D) waste is all waste that arises from construction, renovation and
demolition activities and all wastes mentioned in Chapter 17 of the European Waste Catalogue (EWC).
CSO
the Central Statistics Office.
DEHLG
the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
‘Disposal’ means any operation which is not recovery even where the operation has as a secondary
consequence the reclamation of substances or energy. Annex I of the new Waste Framework Directive
(WsFD) (Directive 2008/98/EC) sets out a non-exhaustive list of disposal operations.
‘End of Life Vehicle’ (ELV) means a vehicle which is waste within the meaning of Article 1(a) of Directive
75/442/EEC (Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of life vehicles).
EPA
the Environmental Protection Agency.
European Waste Catalogue (EWC), now called the List of Wastes, is a list of all waste types generated in the
EU. The different types of waste are fully defined by a six-digit code, with two digits each for chapter, subchapter and waste type. The catalogue is available for download from EPA website at
www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/waste/stats/EPA_waste_catalogue_hazard_list_2002.pdf
v
‘Hazardous wastes’ are wastes that have the potential to cause harm to human health or the environment.
Any waste which displays one or more of the hazardous properties listed in Annex III of the new Waste
Framework Directive (WsFD) (Directive 2008/98/EC) is defined as hazardous waste.
‘Household waste’ is defined as waste produced within the curtilage of a building or self-contained part of a
building used for the purposes of living accommodation.
‘Industrial waste’ is waste produced by industrial activity such as that of factories, mills and mines. Nonprocess industrial waste (e.g. from site canteen, office, etc.) is similar in character to commercial waste.
‘Inert waste’ is waste that does not undergo any significant physical, chemical or biological transformations.
Inert waste will not dissolve, burn or otherwise physically or chemically react, biodegrade or adversely affect
other matter with which it comes into contact in any way likely to give rise to environmental pollution or harm
human health.
An Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) licence is an authorisation issued and enforced by
the EPA for specific industrial and agricultural activities. An IPPC licence sets limits on air and water
emissions, waste and noise and requires that an activity must use the Best Available Techniques (BAT).
An Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) in the context of this report is one that combines a landfill
and other waste infrastructure such as civic amenity site, transfer station, composting or other treatment
facilities.
‘Kerbside collection’ is a common reference for the practice of collecting household or commercial waste
directly from its source, often, though not necessarily, from the pavement or front door.
‘Mechanical-biological treatment’ (MBT) means the treatment of residual municipal waste through a
combination of manual and mechanical processing and biological stabilisation, in order to stabilise and reduce
the volume of waste that requires disposal.
Metric tonnes are expressed as „t‟ throughout this report.
MFSU – manufacture, formulation, supply and use.
‘Municipal solid waste’ (MSW) or ‘Municipal waste’ means household waste as well as commercial and
other waste that, because of its nature or composition, is similar to household waste. It excludes municipal
sludges and effluents. In the context of this report municipal waste consists of three main elements household, commercial (including non-process industrial waste), and street cleansing waste (street sweepings,
street bins and municipal parks and cemeteries maintenance waste, litter campaign material, fly tipped
material).
NEC – not elsewhere classified.
‘Organic waste’ is biodegradable food, garden and landscaping waste.
‘Packaging’ is used to contain, protect and present goods. Virtually all packaging eventually becomes waste.
Packaging is made from such materials as cardboard, paper, glass, plastic, steel, aluminium, wood, and
composite materials such as those used in milk and juice cartons.
The Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) Regulations 2007 require that releases of pollutants
and off-site transfers of waste by facilities operating in relevant industrial sectors must be reported annually to
the EPA. The EPA in turn reports this information to the European E-PRTR website.
‘Preparing for reuse’ means checking, cleaning or repairing recovery operations, by which products or
components of products that have become waste are prepared so that they can be reused without any other
pre-processing.
vi
‘Recovery’ means any operation the principal result of which is waste serving a useful purpose by replacing
other materials which would otherwise have been used to fulfil a particular function, or waste being prepared to
fulfil that function, in the plant or in the wider economy. Annex II of the new Waste Framework Directive
(WsFD) (Directive 2008/98/EC) sets out a non-exhaustive list of recovery operations, which includes material
recovery (i.e. recycling), energy recovery (i.e. use a fuel (other than in direct incineration) or other means to
generate energy) and biological recovery (e.g. composting). Direct recycling or reuse within industrial plants at
the place of generation is excluded.
‘Recycling’ means any recovery operation by which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials
or substances whether for the original or other purposes. It includes the reprocessing of organic material but
does not include energy recovery and the reprocessing into materials that are to be used as fuels or for
backfilling operations.
‘Residual waste’ means the fraction of collected waste remaining after a treatment or diversion step, which
generally requires further treatment or disposal.
‘Reuse’ means any operation by which products or components that are not waste are used again for the
same purpose for which they were conceived.
‘Solid recovered fuels’ (SRF) and „refuse derived fuels’ (RDF) are fuels produced from waste through a
number of different processes such as mechanical separation, blending and compressing to increase the fuel
value of the waste. Such waste derived fuels can be comprised of paper, plastic and other combustible wastes
and can be combusted in a waste-to-energy plant, cement kiln or industrial furnace.
The TransFrontier Shipment of Waste (TFS) Regulations 2007 set out new notification procedures, revised
waste listings and enforcement provisions in relation to the export, import and transit of waste shipments within
the EU. The National TFS Office at Dublin City Council is the competent authority for the implementation and
enforcement of the TFS Regulations since 12 July 2007.
‘Treatment’ means recovery or disposal operations, including preparation prior to recovery or disposal.
‘Waste’ is defined as any substance or object which the holder discards, intends to discard or is required to
discard, under the new Waste Framework Directive (WsFD) (Directive 2008/98/EC).
‘Waste management’ means the collection, transport, recovery and disposal of waste, including the
supervision of such operations and the after-care of disposal sites, and including actions taken as a dealer or
broker.
„Waste producer’ means anyone whose activities produce waste (original waste producer) or anyone who
carries out pre-processing, mixing or other operations resulting in a change in the nature or composition of this
waste, under the new Waste Framework Directive (WsFD) (Directive 2008/98/EC).
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (‘WEEE’) refers to electrical and electronic equipment which is
waste within the meaning of article 1(a) of Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste, including
all components, subassemblies and consumables which are part of the product at the time of discarding.
[Note: the list of terms above is intended to assist
understanding of this report, and does not purport to be
a legal interpretation of said terms].
vii
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for producing national statistics on waste
generation and management in the Republic of Ireland, including information on waste exports and imports.
The objective of the current report is to present the most up to date information available on waste generation
and management in Ireland, as reported to the EPA. This report is for the calendar year 2008 and deals with
municipal solid wastes (household, commercial and local authority cleansing wastes) and industrial wastes
(reported every second year) generated and recovered/disposed in 2008. Some of the key statistics and
findings from the report are set out below.
Municipal Waste
A total of 3,224,281 t of municipal waste was generated, a 5% reduction on 2007 figures;
The recovery of municipal waste increased by 1% to yield an overall recovery rate of 37.5%. The
disposal of municipal waste to landfill decreased by a corresponding 1%;
The quantity of biodegradable municipal waste disposed at landfill decreased by 19% to 1,196,044 t;
this leaves Ireland 280,000 t short of the first Landfill Directive target due by July 2010;
Of the 2,091,709 t of biodegradable municipal waste available, 57% was consigned to landfill;
Household waste generation dropped by 5% to 1,677,338 t, notwithstanding a reported population rise
of c. 83,100 persons;
Of the total managed household waste (1,556,879 t), some 26% was recovered;
Commercial waste generation dropped by 5% to 1,477,397 t, of which 49% was recovered;
Home composting increased by c. 7% to an estimated 36,713 t;
The quantity of organic waste collected from household kerbsides doubled to 37,920 t;
A 2-bin service (residuals bin and dry recyclables bin) was provided to 95% of serviced households;
A 3-bin service (residuals, dry recyclables and organics bins) was provided to 21% of serviced
households;
The private sector collected 57% of the 1,161,152 t of waste reported as collected from households;
The recovery of non-hazardous municipal waste that took place in Ireland amounted to 22%;
The UK remains the principal initial destination for Irish municipal waste recyclables;
Due to the significant price reduction in the international recyclates market in late-2008, waste
operators reported considerable volumes of mixed dry recyclables and segregated recyclable waste
streams in storage at the end of 2008 (approximately 40,000 t more in storage than at the end of 2007).
viii
Producer responsibility initiative waste streams
A recovery rate of 65% is reported for packaging waste, exceeding the EU target of 60% recovery due
in 2011;
A total of 51,964 t of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) was collected for recovery,
including 9 kg per capita of household WEEE, exceeding the 4 kg per capita EU target;
Construction and demolition waste
There was a 24% decrease in the reported quantity of construction and demolition waste collected
(13.5 million tonnes) and managed (10.5 million tonnes), compared with 2007 data;
Industrial waste
The mining and aluminium production sectors continued to be the largest generators of non-hazardous
industrial waste, while the slaughtering and rendering, brewing and timber industries also continued to
contribute strongly;
Since the last industry survey in 2006, there was little change in the generation of waste by the
manufacturing sector (1% decrease) while a more substantial 10% decrease was noted in the quantity
of waste generated by the mining sector;
Hazardous waste
The quantity of hazardous waste managed increased by 5% to 319,098 t, originating primarily from the
pharmaceutical and chemical industries; a significant 25% increase was noted in the quantity of
hazardous waste treated at EPA-licensed hazardous waste treatment facilities;
Waste infrastructure
A total of 31 active landfills accepted municipal waste for disposal;
Local authorities reported that there were 96 civic amenity sites and 1,989 bring banks in operation,
compared to 90 and 1,960 respectively in 2007;
The reported tonnage of waste brought to civic amenity sites and bring banks was 302,755 t, an
increase of 1% on 2007.
Conclusions
The 5% decline in the generation of municipal waste mirrored the fall in Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
between 2007 and 2008. The data also show that household waste generation fell despite a rise in population,
and that recovery rates generally improved across most waste streams. Significant progress has been made in
managing waste in Ireland, particularly in respect of municipal waste generation and management. There
remains considerable effort required in relation to diversion of biodegradable waste from landfill. Ireland is well
advanced concerning achievement of its EU recovery/recycling obligations in relation to a range of EU waste
directives.
ix
Development of essential waste infrastructure continues to be a challenge in the State. Facilities for the
separate collection of waste, for materials recovery/recycling, for treatment of the biodegradable proportion of
municipal waste, for waste-to-energy etc. are underdeveloped or absent. Using the Economic and Social
Research Institute‟s (ESRI) Sustainable Development Model for Ireland (ISus) to forecast national
environmental emissions and resource use up to 2030, it is estimated that the total volume of municipal waste
is likely to increase quite substantially within the coming decade, necessitating future investment in waste
management infrastructure.
Recommendations
The diversion of very large quantities of food waste from landfill is a priority that must be addressed. The
growing need for businesses to reduce costs in the current difficult economic climate underlines the need for
continued support for resource efficiency and conservation initiatives in relation to waste, water and energy,
such as those provided under the National Waste Prevention Programme (NWPP).
The priority actions for biodegradable municipal waste management in Ireland for 2010 are similar to those
identified in the National Waste Report for 2007, and include the need to:
Promote food waste prevention through NWPP initiatives such as StopFoodWaste.ie, Green Business
and Green Hospitality Awards.
Put in place services for the separate collection of organic (particularly food) waste at households and
commercial premises;
Ensure there is adequate infrastructure to treat the very large quantities of organic (particularly food)
waste that must be collected separately and diverted from landfill;
Develop outlets for the products of such treatment; to this end successful implementation of the
Government sponsored Market Development Programme should provide valuable support mechanisms
for the national recyclates industry;
Formulate and implement regulations/bye-laws that can be used to enforce the segregation and
separate collection of food waste at household and commercial premises;
Deliver any relevant new waste policy on foot of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local
Government-funded International Review of Waste Management Policy in Ireland as quickly as
possible. This will assist in providing certainty within the waste industry in Ireland and allows for
accelerated investment programmes that are necessary if organic waste is to be treated and landfill
avoided;
In summer 2009, the EPA published guidance on municipal waste pre-treatment and, on foot of that
guidance, proceeded to review the municipal waste landfill licences in the State and attach appropriate
pre-treatment licence conditions. This licence review process is expected to be substantially completed
by the end of 2009. It is important that licence holders immediately put in place measures to ensure
compliance with the revised licence conditions by the dates specified in the licences.
x
1 INTRODUCTION
The EPA is responsible for producing national statistics on waste generation and management in the Republic of
Ireland, including information on waste exports and imports. The objective of the National Waste Report (NWR) is
to present the most up to date information available on waste generation and management in Ireland, as reported
to the EPA. National waste statistics are prepared and published annually 2 as part of the National Waste
Prevention Programme (NWPP)3. The waste data collected for the NWR is used to report to the EU Commission
on various EU Directives (packaging, WEEE etc.), the Waste Statistics Regulation and the Basel Convention. The
EPA recognises that good data on waste generation and waste management are fundamental in informing
national and EU policy in relation to waste.
National Waste Report survey approach
The current NWR presents waste data for the calendar year 2008. Generators of waste described in this report
include households, commercial premises, and industrial and construction activities. Several data sources were
used to collate the information presented in this NWR, including:
Local authorities;
National TFS Office;
Licensed landfill operators;
Recovery organisations and general waste facility operators4;
Industrial activities;
Hazardous waste treatment facilities.
The sources of all data cited are referenced throughout the report. The co-operation of all respondent
organisations is gratefully acknowledged and this report could not be produced without their providing good
quality data. All survey returns were desk-top validated and 34 data verification audits were carried out, covering
11 local authority functional areas and 56 waste operators. The EPA adopted a more direct approach to collating
the 2008 municipal waste data, by collecting and verifying the data directly at source for eight of the largest
municipal waste companies in the State. It is anticipated that this approach will continue and be refined for the
NWR 2009. The EPA also carried out data reconciliation visits to the WEEE and packaging compliance schemes.
The waste accounting method used in this and previous NWRs does not include material in transit or temporary
storage as it is neither disposed nor recovered. This quantity generally does not vary significantly year-on-year
(176,312 t in transit/temporary storage at the end of 2007, and 174,412 t at the end of 2008). The bulk of the
material is typically construction and demolition (C&D) material awaiting recovery; however, the building
slowdown during 2008 led to a reduction in C&D material in storage. There was instead increased storage of dryrecyclables/packaging waste, arising from the low international market prices for dry recyclables in late-2008. This
impacted in particular on the lower-grade recyclates coming from the household waste stream. As a result, there
was approx. 40,000 t more mixed dry recyclables and packaging waste in storage at the end of 2008 than the end
of 2007. Some recovery in international market prices for dry recyclables occurred in 2009.
2
National Waste Reports for the years 1995, 1998 and all years from 2001–2008 are available to download at
www.epa.ie/whatwedo/resource/nwr/
3
More information at www.nwpp.ie
4
Municipal solid waste operators, recycling organisations, WEEE handlers, metal handlers, composters, pallet merchants.
1
In the NWR 2006, the EPA committed to conducting research on the classification of municipal waste by
operators. The subsequent research confirmed that:
(a) The increased processing (including separating, treating, mixing and merging) of waste streams will
render differentiation between municipal, industrial and construction and demolition wastes more
challenging;
(b) Waste operators‟ definitions of municipal waste reflect operational, not statistical, needs; and
(c) There is a need for further research to explore whether a consistent classification system for all
operators can be introduced, or whether operators‟ systems can be „translated‟ to a common system.
The EPA recognises that data for the C&D sector continues to present interpretation and reconciliation
challenges. The main issue appears to be how the sector defines waste and the potential for secondary resources
not being properly accounted for. The EPA plans to focus closely on the C&D sector in the coming report years
with a view to improving material classification, data collection and verification.
In September 2008, the Batteries Directive was transposed into national legislation by the Waste Management
(Batteries and Accumulators) Regulations (S.I. No. 268 of 2008). It is anticipated that batteries will be reported on
as a separate waste stream in future NWRs in order to determine Ireland‟s progress on achieving the targets set
down by the legislation.
National developments
The current National Waste Report is particularly important in relation to its timing, following on from the recent
5
completion of the in-depth International Review of Waste Management Policy in Ireland . This assessment of
national waste management policy was provided for in the 2007 2012 Programme for Government. In 2008, the
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DEHLG) initiated the review, and it is intended
that the outcome will inform any developments in the Irish waste management policy environment over the next
few years, including the role of local authorities and the private waste management industry. The information in
the current NWR will assist any appropriate decision-making on foot of the International Review.
In summer 2009, the EPA published guidance on municipal waste pre-treatment6 and, on foot of that guidance,
proceeded to review the municipal waste landfill licences in the State and attach appropriate pre-treatment licence
conditions. It is expected that this licence review process will be substantially completed by the end of 2009. The
EPA pre-treatment guidance also dealt with the required reduction in biodegradable waste to landfill arising from
the EU Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC), the first compliance date being in 2010. On account of this obligation,
special attention has been given to municipal waste management in this report and, in particular, the
biodegradable component. The waste data for 2008, as reported here, inform how Ireland is progressing with
respect to the Landfill Directive. A key impact of the Landfill Directive obligations will be the availability of an
increased tonnage of recyclables. The Market Development Programme (funded by the DEHLG) proposes to
develop a range of support tools for the national recycling and recovery market.7
In 2010, landfill facilities (and other identified waste facilities) will be required through their EPA licence conditions
to characterise the residual municipal waste material entering the gate of the facility. This information will assist
the production of national data to assess compliance with EU Landfill Directive requirements. The EPA is
5
International Review of Waste Management Policy in Ireland. Eunomia et al. DEHLG, 2009.
Municipal Solid Waste – Pre-Treatment & Residuals Management: An EPA Technical Guidance Document. EPA, 2009.
7
Market Development Programme for Waste Resources 2007-2011, available to download from www.environ.ie and at
www.envirocentre.ie. See www.rx3.ie for further information.
2
6
currently in the process of developing guidance to assist waste facility operators in relation to these
characterisation requirements.
Development of essential waste infrastructure continues to be a challenge in the State. Facilities for the separate
collection of waste, for materials recovery/recycling, for treatment of the biodegradable proportion of municipal
waste, for waste-to-energy etc. are underdeveloped or absent. This report presents a brief overview of the status
of key infrastructure.
EU developments and obligations
Significant change to national waste management law arising from EU initiatives is also imminent. The EU
published its new Waste Framework Directive (WsFD) at the end of 2008 (2008/98/EC), and this is required to be
transposed into national law by 12 December 2010. This new law will significantly influence waste policy in
Europe for years to come. The WsFD reflects the EU waste policy direction set out in the current EU Waste
Strategy8. The stated long-term goal in the EU Strategy is for the EU to become a recycling society that seeks to
avoid waste and which uses waste as a resource; accordingly, the Strategy places a strong emphasis on waste
prevention.
The new WsFD consolidates and repeals the current Waste Framework Directive (2006/12/EC), the Hazardous
Waste Directive (91/689/EEC) and the Waste Oils Directive (74/439/EEC). It also attempts to introduce greater
legal clarity in relation to its scope; for example in the area of exclusions (what the directive does not cover),
definitions, end-of-waste, and waste or by-products decisions. The new WsFD also introduces new or enhanced
provisions in the areas of:
Extended waste producer responsibility;
Waste prevention;
Waste prevention programmes;
Biowaste management;
Waste hierarchy;
Product producer responsibility;
Inspections;
Enforcement sanctions;
Separate collections for waste streams.
8
Taking Sustainable Use of Resources Forward - A Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste [21.12.2005,
Com(2005) 666 final]
3
The Directive requires – where technically, environmentally and economically practicable
that, by 2015, there
must be separate collections for paper, metal, plastic and glass. The Directive also requires that – subject to BAT9
– there must be separate collections of biowaste. Moreover, the new Directive establishes certain targets:
By 2020, there must be recycling and preparing for reuse of 50% by weight of discarded household
paper, plastic, metal and glass.
By 2020, there must be recycling, recovery and preparing for reuse of 70% by weight of discarded nonhazardous C&D waste.
These targets are in addition to existing EU recovery/recycling targets specified, for example, in the End of Life
Vehicles (ELV) Directive (2000/53/EC), the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment Directive (WEEE)
(2002/96/EC), the Batteries Directive (2006/66/EC), and the Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EC). These are
summarised in Table 1. Such targets will present data and compliance pressures for Ireland; that said, it is clear
from Table 1 that Ireland has, and is, making significant progress on a number of fronts.
The NWR will assist measurement of success of certain initiatives under the National Waste Prevention
Programme.10 It can be seen from the report of progress under the National Waste Prevention Programme 200811
that Ireland is well advanced along the „prevention‟ path recommended in the new Directive; this achievement
being acknowledged in the report of the International Review of Waste Management Policy in Ireland12 and at EU
Commission level.
9
Best Available Techniques
See www.nwpp.ie for further information.
11
See www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/waste/prevention/
12
International Review of Waste Management Policy in Ireland. Eunomia et al. DEHLG, 2009
4
10
Table 1: Progress towards EU waste recycling, recovery and diversion targets
Directive
Title
Targets
Article
Target date
Specifics
60% as a minimum by weight of packaging waste will be recovered or incinerated at
waste incineration plants with energy recovery
55% as a minimum by weight of packaging waste will be recycled
No later than 31 December 2011 the following minimum recycling targets for
materials contained in packaging waste will be attained:
94/62/EC as
amended
Packaging
Directive
6(1)
31-12-2011
(i) 60% by weight for glass;
(ii) 60% by weight for paper and board;
(iii) 50% by weight for metals;
5(5)
2002/96/EC
13
WEEE
Directive
7(2)
(31-12-2006)
31-12-200814
Indicator
65%
Achieved
(62%)13
Better data needed
74%13
Achieved
13
(78%)
62%
13
Better data needed
Achieved
(iv) 22.5% by weight for plastics, counting exclusively material that is recycled back
into plastics;
13
(28%)
Better data needed
(v) 15% by weight for wood.
(77%)13
Better data needed
9 kg
Achieved
Separate collection of > 4kg of WEEE from private households per person per year
For large household appliances and automatic dispensers:recovery shall be increased to a minimum of 80% by an average weight
per appliance
component, material and substance reuse and recycling shall be increased
to a minimum of 75% by an average weight per appliance
For IT, telecommunications and consumer equipment:the rate of recovery shall be increased to a minimum of 75% by an
average weight per appliance
component, material and substance reuse and recycling shall be increased
to a minimum of 65% by an average weight per appliance
For small household appliances, lighting equipment, electrical & electronic tools,
toys, leisure and sports equipment, monitoring and control instruments:the rate of recovery shall be increased to a minimum of 70% by an
average weight per appliance
component, material and substance reuse and recycling shall be increased
to a minimum of 50% by an average weight per appliance
For gas discharge lamps, the rate of component, material and substance reuse and
recycling shall reach a minimum of 80% by weight of the lamps
These are packaging recycling percentages for 2008. See Section 5 for further information.
Ireland obtained a two-year derogation
15
As specified by the WEEE Directive, these estimated recovery and recycling percentages exclude the preparation for reuse of whole appliances.
5
14
Current progress
to target in
Ireland (2008)
>82%15
Achieved
>81%15
>85%15
Achieved
>72%15
>85%15
>72%
Achieved
15
>92%15
Achieved
Targets
Directive
Title
Article
Target date
2000/53/EC
End of Life
Vehicles
Directive
7(2)(a)
7(2)(b)
10(2)
1-1-2006
1-1-2015
Specifics
Current progress
to target in
Ireland (2008)
Reuse and recovery to a minimum of 85% by average weight of vehicle and year.
Reuse and recycling to a minimum of 80% by average weight of vehicle and year.
Reuse and recovery to a minimum of 95% by average weight of vehicle and year.
Separate ELV fact
sheet to follow in 2010
Reuse and recycling to a minimum of 85% by average weight of vehicle and year.
26-9-2012
Minimum 25% collection rate for batteries & accumulators.
26-9-2016
Minimum 45% collection rate for batteries & accumulators.
Recycling processes shall achieve the following minimum recycling efficiencies:
2006/66/EC
Batteries
Directive
12(4)
26-9-2011
Indicator
Future NWRs
-
(a) recycling of 65 % by average weight of lead-acid batteries and accumulators,
including recycling of the lead content to the highest degree that is technically
feasible while avoiding excessive costs;
(b) recycling of 75 % by average weight of nickel-cadmium batteries and
accumulators, including recycling of the cadmium content to the highest degree that
is technically feasible while avoiding excessive costs; and
(c) recycling of 50 % by average weight of other waste batteries and accumulators.
1999/31/EC
2008/98/EC
16
17
Landfill
Directive
New Waste
Framework
Directive
(16-7-2006)
16-7-201016
Biodegradable municipal waste going to landfills must be reduced to 75% of the total
quantity (by weight) biodegradable municipal waste produced in 1995 (< 916,000 t)
+ 280,000 t
- Risk Due July 2010
(16-7-2009)
16-7-2013
Biodegradable municipal waste going to landfills must be reduced to 50% of the total
quantity (by weight) biodegradable municipal waste produced in 1995 (< 610,000 t)
+ 586,000 t (est)17
- Risk Due July 2013
16-7-2016
Biodegradable municipal waste going to landfills must be reduced to 35% of the total
quantity (by weight) biodegradable municipal waste produced in 1995 (427,000 t)
+ 769,000 t (est)17
- Risk Due July 2016
11(2)(a)
12-12-2020
Preparing for reuse and recycling of 50% by weight of household derived paper,
metal, plastic & glass (includes metal and plastic estimates from household WEEE).
52%
Achieved
11(2)(b)
12-12-2020
Preparing for reuse, recycling and other material recovery (incl. beneficial backfilling
operations using waste as a substitute) of 70% by weight of C&D waste (excluding
natural soils & stone)
62%
On Track
29
12-12-2013
Establishment of a National Waste Prevention Programme
N/A
Achieved
5(2)
Ireland secured a four-year derogation on first and second targets.
Based on a 2008 standstill position.
6
2 GENERATION OF MUNICIPAL WASTE
In 2008, it is estimated that a total of 3,224,281 t of municipal waste 18 was generated in Ireland, a decrease of 5%
on the 2007 figures (Table 2 and Figure 1). This is a significant downward shift. Figure 2 goes some way to assist
in an explanation, indicating that between 2007 and 2008 the drop in waste generation in Ireland mirrored the fall
in national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures also indicate a levelling
off in personal consumption – household waste generation, inter alia, reflects personal consumption patterns. In
addition, and on account of the international price drop in the dry recyclates market in the second half of 2008,
there was a sizeable tonnage of mixed dry recyclables and packaging waste in storage at the end of 2008 (up
approximately 40,000 t on 2007 levels).
The data for household waste generation also includes local authority estimates for uncollected household waste
(120,459 t; refer to Section 3.2). A distinction is therefore drawn between municipal waste generated and
municipal waste managed – the latter concerning itself only with waste that is either home composted, collected
or brought directly to waste facilities.
Table 2: Municipal waste generation, 2003 2008
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Household waste (t)
1,704,844
1,728,154
1,746,408
1,978,716
1,761,167
Commercial waste (t)
1,141,264
1,202,824
1,235,629
1,327,068
1,549,075
1,477,397
71,779
69,661
58,677
78,822
87,441
69,546
Total municipal waste (t)
2,917,886
3,000,638
3,040,714
3,384,606
3,397,683
3,224,281
% change
7.3
2.8
1.3
11.3
0.4
-5.1
Cleansing waste (t)
2008
19
1,677,338
(Source: recovery organisations survey; landfill survey, local authority survey)
The trends in Table 2 show a continuation of the downward trend commenced in 2007, with a 5% decrease in
household waste generated and a decrease of 5% in commercial waste arisings. The tonnage of household
waste generated is comparable to data for pre-2002. A more detailed analysis of the main components of the
managed household and commercial municipal streams are discussed in Sections 3.2 and 3.3 of this report.
Cleansing waste comprises street sweepings, the content of municipal bins, parks and gardens waste, municipal
clean-up material and fly-tipped material. Tracking this material over its full management cycle is challenging, as
much of this waste is merged with collected household waste at waste transfer and treatment facilities. Apart from
street sweepings (litter, grit, water etc.), the remainder of this material has a similar character to household waste
and is accordingly indistinguishable. The landfill section of this report (Section 9.1) identifies some 24,969 t of
street sweepings and parks maintenance waste disposed of at landfill in 2008; the remainder of the 69,546 t of
cleansing waste collected (consisting principally of fly-tipped and municipal clean-up material) likely became
merged with the household and commercial waste streams.
18
In the context of this report municipal waste consists of three main elements - Household, Commercial (including non-process
industrial waste), and Street Cleansing waste (street sweepings, street bins and municipal parks and cemeteries maintenance
waste, litter campaign material, fly tipped material).
19
WEEE collected at civic amenity sites and retail premises was included in the household waste total this year.
7
Population
3,500,000
4,500,000
3,400,000
4,400,000
3,300,000
4,300,000
3,200,000
4,200,000
3,100,000
4,100,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
2,900,000
3,900,000
2,800,000
3,800,000
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Year
Figure 1: Trends in generation of municipal waste, 2004 2008
Index scale (2002 = 100)
130
125
Personal consumption (A)
(A)
GDP (B)
(B)
Municipal waste generation (C)
120
(C)
Population (D)
115
(D)
110
105
100
95
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008 †
Year
Personal consumption of goods and services, at constant market prices (Source: CSO)
GDP, gross domestic product, at constant market prices (Source: CSO)
Municipal waste generation (Source: EPA National Waste Report series)
Population (Source: CSO)
† Preliminary CSO data for 2008
Figure 2: Trends in generation of municipal waste, national productivity and consumption
8
Number of people
Tonnes per year
Total municipal waste
Municipal waste outlook
The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) were commissioned by the EPA under its research
programme to design and build a Sustainable Development Model for Ireland (ISus)
20
that will forecast national
environmental emissions and resource use up to 2025, having regard to economic and social developments. The
ISus model is driven by the ERSI‟s HERMES model, which projects economic production and consumption per
sector.
The volume of future streams of municipal waste are intricately linked to the performance of the economy and its
ability to move out of recession. Using the ISus model, it is possible to project future volumes of managed
municipal waste (i.e. excludes uncollected household waste) on the ESRI‟s Recovery Scenarios for Ireland
21
,
which projects that the Irish economy will grow quite rapidly in the 2011 2015 period on the basis that the world
economy recovers by 2010 and that the Irish economy improves its competitiveness position versus its trading
partners. The projections for managed municipal waste are plotted in Figure 3, which shows that by 2010
managed municipal waste will have fallen back almost to 2005 levels. Over the 2008 2011 period, managed
municipal waste is expected to average at roughly 3 million tonnes per annum. Assuming an economic recovery
in 2011 and beyond, it is anticipated that the volume of municipal waste will increase by 3 4% per annum. With
that level of growth, the total volume of municipal waste to be managed will increase by roughly one million
tonnes within 10 years. While there may be sufficient management capacity in the immediate future, the volume
of municipal waste is likely to increase quite substantially within the coming decade, necessitating future
investment in waste management infrastructure.
In the coming years it will be important that waste prevention programmes become embedded, so-as to assist in
the decoupling of waste generation in Ireland from the predicted subsequent growth in GDP.
Managed MSW (millions t)
Managed MSW (millions t)
6
5
Current position
4
3
6
2
Measured
Predicted
5
4
1
3
2
0
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
20
18
20
19
20
20
20
21
20
22
20
23
20
24
20
25
1
Figure 3: Predicted growth in municipal waste (ISus model20) (excludes uncollected household waste)
20
21
For further information on the ISus model see www.esri.ie/research/research_areas/environment/isus/
www.esri.ie/publications/latest_publications/view/index.xml?id=2774
9
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Year
..
0
3 MANAGEMENT OF MUNICIPAL WASTE
The quantity of municipal waste managed in 2008 (3,103,820 t) is an approximate 2% reduction on that managed in
2007 (3,174,565 t). Disposal and recovery rates for the managed municipal waste streams are shown in Table 3 and
Figure 4. The quantity of municipal waste recovered in 2008 increased by 1% on that reported in 2007, while the
landfill of municipal waste decreased by a corresponding amount. The recovery rate continues to exceed the national
target of 35% recycling by 2013. The improvement in recovery rates occurred notwithstanding the significant price
drop in the international recyclates market in the latter half of 2008. The total managed municipal waste arisings
comprised 1,556,879 t of household wastes; 1,477,395 t of commercial wastes and 69,546 t of cleansing wastes. The
constituents of the commercial and household waste streams are examined in greater detail later in this section.
Table 3: Disposal and recovery of managed municipal waste, 2008
Quantity
managed (t)22
Material
Total
3,103,820
Quantity
landfilled (t)
23
1,938,712
National
landfill rate
(%)
Quantity
recovered (t)
National
recovery rate
(%)
62.5
1,165,108
37.5
(Source: recovery organisations survey, local authority survey, landfill survey and EPA municipal waste composition survey 24)
Figure 4 illustrates trends in the recovery and disposal of municipal waste, together with population growth over the
last 5 years. The trends illustrated in Figure 4 (and Figure 1) suggest a decoupling of the link between increasing
municipal waste generation and population growth. Also evident are the decreasing proportion of municipal wastes
landfilled and the increasing proportion recovered.
Recovery
Disposal
Population
4,500,000
2,000,000
Tonnes per year
4,300,000
1,500,000
4,200,000
4,100,000
1,000,000
4,000,000
3,900,000
500,000
3,800,000
0
3,700,000
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Year
Figure 4: Trends in recovery and disposal of municipal waste, 2003 2008
22
This total doesn‟t include estimates of uncollected waste (120,459 t).
Includes household & commercial sent to landfill as well as 24,969 t street sweepings, cemeteries and parks waste.
24
See www.epa.ie/whatwedo/resource/nwr/municipal/ for further details.
23
10
Number of people
4,400,000
3.1
Waste recovery and recycling
The following section presents information on some of the main recyclable streams managed in Ireland, with the data
provided by the recovery organisation survey returns. With regard to organic waste, Tables 4 to 7 report on municipal
organic waste (i.e. non-municipal wastes reported by recovery organisations such as sludges, animal tissue waste
etc., were not included). Note that data on non-municipal organic wastes is captured in Section 8 Industrial Waste.
With regard to the other waste streams (wood, plastics etc.), Tables 4 to 7 include an element of non-municipal
wastes, such as those derived from C&D and agricultural wastes.
Table 4 shows that in 2008, 21.5% of waste recovery took place in Ireland (up from 19.3% in 2007). An increase in
the quantity of plastic waste being recycled in Ireland was noted. In 2008, 33% of plastic recovery took place in
Ireland, compared to 23% in 2007. There are an increasing number of small companies granulating waste plastic in
Ireland. A number of these companies have found markets here in Ireland for the plastic granules and the remainder
is exported. A total of 596,471 t of paper and cardboard was recovered in Ireland and abroad in 2008, compared to
529,824 t in 2007, an increase of 66,647 t. A small tonnage of refuse derived fuel was used as a fuel (other than in
direct incineration) in Ireland during 2008 (previously all had been exported) and it is expected that this tonnage will
increase in 2009 and beyond.
The substantial reliance on material recovery facilities abroad continues (Table 5). Waste materials are also imported
into Ireland for reprocessing. Table 6 shows the quantities of waste exported from and imported into Ireland in 2008.
In 2008 a total of 87,570 t of waste was reported as imported into Ireland, comprising mainly plastic packaging waste
(e.g. plastic bottles) (72%) and mixed metals (22%).
Table 7 shows that the United Kingdom continues to be the principal initial destination for recyclable waste (although
it is acknowledged that a percentage of what is exported to the UK is subsequently bulked and sent outside UK for
treatment). A total of 586,693 t of paper and cardboard was exported in 2008 for reprocessing, predominantly to
Europe (71%) and Asia (16% – including China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan). A total of 641,244 t of metal was
exported in 2008, mainly to Spain and Portugal (57%) and to the UK (36%). As in 2007, refuse derived fuel was
exported to Sweden (90%) and the UK (10%). As in previous years, a certain proportion of Irish recyclable waste
exported to other EU countries is bulked before shipping onwards to countries within and outside the EU.
In 2007, a Market Development Programme (MDP) for Waste Resources 2007–201125 was published by the DEHLG.
The implementation of the MDP, which commenced in 2008 and was formally launched in 2009, aims to develop
existing markets for recyclables and identify new applications and markets for recyclables in Ireland. Key issues to be
addressed in the MDP include promoting stable demand for recovered materials, supporting the achievement of
economies of scale in the production of products made from recycled materials, and the need for more recovery and
recycling infrastructure in Ireland to reduce reliance on overseas markets. The waste pre-treatment guidance
published by the EPA in 200926 should also, in time, contribute to the generation of a stable supply of recyclables to
the national market, with a consequent benefit for the recovery and recycling industry.
25
Market Development Programme for Waste Resources 2007–2011, available to download from www.environ.ie and
www.envirocentre.ie. See also www.rx3.ie.
26
Municipal Solid Waste – Pre-Treatment & Residuals Management: An EPA Technical Guidance Document. EPA, 2009.
11
Table 4: Non-hazardous waste recovered in Ireland in 2007 and 2008 (not including imports)
2007
Material27
% recovered in
Ireland (compared
to total recovery of
each material)
Recovered in
Ireland (t)
Tyres
2008
% recovered in
Ireland (compared
to total recovery of
each material)
Recovered in
Ireland (t)
18,338
100
19,002
100.0
Wood
223,924
94.4
216,830
95.4
Organic waste28
29
70,558
89.7
90,491
93.0
Plastic
19,726
23.4
28,355
33.0
Textiles
1,650
24.1
2,514
32.8
Aluminium
3,838
21.6
3,121
17.9
Mixed metals
4,910
11.8
4,718
17.8
24,526
16.7
21,314
17.0
Paper and cardboard
3,213
0.6
5,554
0.9
Ferrous metals
1,674
0.2
2,159
0.4
0
0
63
0.4
372,356
19.3
394,123
21.5
Glass
Refuse derived fuel30
Total
(Source: recovery organisations survey)
Table 5: Non-hazardous waste recovered abroad in 2007 and 2008
2007
Material27
Recovered
abroad (t)
Refuse derived fuel30
2008
% recovered
abroad (compared
to total recovery
of each material)
32,695
Recovered
abroad (t)
100.0
% recovered
abroad (compared
to total recovery of
each material)
26,171
99.8
31
Ferrous metals
731,517
99.8
605,136
99.6
Paper and cardboard
526,611
99.4
590,917
99.1
Glass
122,607
83.3
104,281
83.0
Mixed metals
36,571
88.2
21,748
82.2
Aluminium
13,940
78.4
14,359
82.1
5,195
75.9
5,155
67.2
64,496
76.6
57,591
67.0
29
10.3
6,846
7.0
13,233
5.6
10,410
4.6
638
100.0
370
100.0
1,555,561
80.7
1,442,984
78.5
Textiles
Plastic
Organic waste
28
8,059
Wood
Other32
Total
(Source: recovery organisations survey)
27
All hazardous waste has been excluded from this table. See Section 9 for information on hazardous waste recovery.
Municipal waste only. Includes edible oils and fats.
29
Amended 2007 reported data to remove non-municipal organic wastes.
30
Used as a fuel.
31
This figure contains some metal from the breakdown of WEEE.
32
Composite packaging and small batteries.
28
12
Table 6: Export and import of non-hazardous waste, 2008
Export of segregated waste (t)
Material exported or
imported for recovery33
Import of segregated waste (t)
Ferrous metals
605,136
34
37,237
Nonpackaging
waste
567,899
Paper and cardboard
590,917
314,366
276,551
Glass
104,281
98,416
5,866
Plastic
57,591
50,418
7,173
Textiles
5,155
14
5,140
Mixed metals
21,748
1,896
19,852
Aluminium
14,359
2,754
11,605
16
Wood
10,410
6,505
3,905
35
6,846
19
19
2,137
2,137
Packaging
waste
Total
Organic waste35
6,846
Refuse derived fuel
26,171
5,639
20,531
370
151
219
1,442,984
517,398
925,587
4,229
62,001
WEEE
Total
61,934
68
19,134
36,37
Other38
Nonpackaging
waste
4,229
Packaging
waste
Total
87,570
19,134
16
35
61,968
25,602
(Source: recovery organisations survey)
Spain/Portugal
Europe
(unspecified)
Metals
Wood
Textiles
Organic waste
Refuse derived
fuel
85,443
40,534
229,879
10,380
5,141
6,840
2,478
1,147
404
5,796
6,500
8,566
Holland
35,846
Asia
41,183
France
10,565
986
China
25,877
5,332
India
25,721
18,838
368,201
0.4
3,810
3,158
Germany
69,755
29,310
40,860
0.1
31,209
123
14
23,816
3,824
3,158
210
Pakistan
79
570
Belgium
514
586,693
5
25,721
51
Total
186,529
44,240
23,693
Indonesia
23
3,057
Sweden
USA
639,130
367,054
180,306
Total
Plastic
258,436
Other38
Glass
UK
Paper &
cardboard
Table 7: Destination of recyclable waste streams, including municipal waste, exported in 2008 (all units t)
584
29
219
649
56
104,281
57,591
1,093
641,244
570
10,410
5,155
6,840
26,171
370
(Source: recovery organisations survey)
33
All hazardous waste has been excluded from this table. See Section 9 for information on hazardous waste recovery.
Total does not describe incidental packaging contained in the general ferrous metal stream
35
Municipal waste only. Includes edible oils and fats.
36
This figure excludes 167 t of WEEE (TVs and monitors), which are classified as hazardous.
37
See Section 6 for information on WEEE exports and imports.
38
Composite packaging and small batteries.
34
13
1,438,755
3.2
Household waste
The reported quantity of household waste managed by the waste industry decreased in 2008 from that reported for
2007, by approximately 4.2% to 1,556,879 t39 (Table 8). The quantity of household waste recovered decreased by
5.5% to 401,312 t; however, when the fall in household waste generation is factored in, the net recovery rate (at 26%)
is identical to that reported for 2007 (Table 9). Correspondingly, the proportion of managed household waste
disposed to landfill is identical to that reported for 2007 (74%). Disposal and recovery trends in household waste
management are shown in Table 8 and Figure 5. There remains some distance to go to meet the national target of
50% diversion of household waste from landfill by 2013 (Table 9).
Table 8: Trends in household waste management
Quantity disposed to landfill (t)
Quantity recovered (t)
Total (t)
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
1,231,109
1,214,908
1,198,504
1,379,246
1,200,980
1,155,567
185,753
285,872
344,964
393,995
424,510
401,312
1,416,862
1,500,780
1,543,468
1,773,242
1,625,490
1,556,879
Recovery
Landfill
Recovery rate
1,600,000
50%
45%
1,400,000
35%
1,000,000
(t)
30%
800,000
25%
20%
600,000
Recovery rate (%)
40%
1,200,000
15%
400,000
10%
200,000
5%
0
0%
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Year
Figure 5: Disposal and recovery trends in household waste management, 2001 2008
Table 9: Disposal and recovery rates in the household waste stream, 2008
Quantity
managed (t)
Total managed household waste40:
1,556,879
Quantity
landfilled (t)
1,155,567
National
landfill rate
(%)
74
Quantity
recovered (t)
National
recovery rate
(%)
401,312
(Source: recovery organisations survey, local authority survey, landfill survey and EPA municipal waste composition survey)
39
40
Waste collected, brought (to bring banks, civic amenity sites, directly to landfill), home composted and municipal WEEE.
Excludes estimated uncollected household waste, includes home composting.
14
26
A survey of the character and composition of collected household waste was carried out in 2008. The results are
summarised
in
Table
10.
A
full
copy
of
the
report
is
available
on
the
EPA
website:
www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/waste/plans/name,11659,en.html.
Table 10: Collected and ‘brought’ household waste composition profile (% by weight)41
Bring banks &
Mixed organics civic amenity
(brown bin)
sites & retail
WEEE
Waste streams
Mixed residual
waste (black
bin) 42
Mixed dry
recyclables
(green bin)
% Total collected & brought (1,520,166 t)
59.2%
17.2%
Waste streams
Mixed residual
waste (black
bin)
Mixed dry
recyclables
(green bin)
Organic waste
24.0%
1.3%
28.5%
5.3%
16.6%
Garden waste
6.5%
0.1%
50.8%
6.7%
6.1%
Papers
12.5%
54.0%
9.8%
11.8%
19.0%
Cardboards
3.6%
15.3%
0.5%
6.3%
6.0%
Composites
1.0%
2.2%
0.1%
0.2%
1.0%
Textiles
7.3%
1.1%
0.5%
4.1%
5.6%
Nappies
8.4%
0.4%
0.8%
0.4%
5.4%
Plastics
13.6%
15.5%
1.8%
7.4%
12.4%
Glass
3.3%
2.3%
0.2%
29.5%
8.5%
Metals
3.1%
4.0%
0.1%
5.3%
3.7%
Wood
1.2%
0.3%
0.1%
5.1%
1.9%
Hazardous waste
0.9%
0.5%
0.0%
1.4%
0.9%
WEEE
0.3%
0.2%
0.0%
7.6%
1.8%
Unclassified combustibles
1.4%
0.2%
0.7%
4.0%
1.7%
Unclassified incombustibles
1.2%
0.2%
0.1%
4.0%
1.6%
Fines smaller than 20mm
11.7%
2.4%
6.0%
0.9%
7.8%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Total
2.5%
21.1%
Bring banks &
Mixed organics
civic amenities
(brown bin)
& retail WEEE
Total
100.0%
Total
(Source: EPA Municipal Waste Characterisation Report 2008)
Household waste collection
Summary information on household waste collection by waste management region is shown in Appendix B. Note that
data on household WEEE collected by compliance schemes at civic amenity sites and retail premises was added to
the household waste tonnages reported as collected in the local authority surveys (which included private operator
collection data). According to these surveys, the total quantity of household waste collected or brought to collection
facilities in Ireland in 2008 was 1,520,166 t; a further estimated 36,713 t was reported as home composted, and
120,459 t was estimated as uncollected (from unserviced occupied houses). Local authorities reported that 302,755 t
of household waste was collected at civic amenity sites and bring banks, continuing the trend of increasing use of
these facilities observed in 2006 and 2007. Leaving out the uncollected household waste, the total quantity of
household waste „managed‟ in 2008 was 1,556,879 t.
41
42
Excludes estimated uncollected waste (120,459 t) and home composting (36,713 t)
Includes residual waste delivered direct to landfill by householder.
15
In total, 57% of the 1,161,152 t household waste was collected by the private sector (up 5% on 2007). The total
quantity of waste collected at kerbside remains static in 2008. This stalling of household waste generation with
respect to population growth is notable (CSO estimate that population grew between 2007 and 2008 by 83,100 to
4,422,100). The kerbside collection of mixed dry recyclables increased by 10% in 2008. In the case of household
rd
organics collection (3 or brown bin) there was a doubling in the tonnage separately collected in 2008 (to 37,920 t)
over that reported in 2007 (18,705 t).
The local authority data and census data suggest that there were c. 1,500,274 occupied houses in the State in 2008.
Of this, a reported 1,192,451 dwellings (79.5%) were serviced by a waste collection service, which was further
broken down into:
62,350 dwellings on a single bin (black bin) service only
878,246 dwellings on a 2-bin service (residuals bin and dry recyclables bin)
251,855 dwellings on a 3-bin service (residuals bin, dry recyclables bin, and organics bin)
Table 11 presents the relative proportions of the different household waste collection services. The figures indicate
that 95% of serviced dwellings have at least a 2-bin service available to them. It is clear from Table 11 that 95% of
collected household waste meets the minimum EU Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) pre-treatment obligations in Article
6 (by virtue of the 2-bin system).
Table 11: Market proportion of different household waste collection services
Presence in household waste collection market (as
a proportion of households serviced):
1-bin only (%)
2-bin only (%)
3-bin (%)
5
74
21
(Source: local authority survey)
Table 12 presents the data for separate kerbside collections of household organic waste in 2008 as reported by local
authorities, including that brought by householders to civic amenity sites. The number of local authority areas offering
a kerbside collection of an organics bin increased from 13 in 2007 to 16 in 2008.
Taking the total collected household waste (1,161,152 t) (refer Appendix B) it can be calculated that the separate
rd
household organics collection (3 bin) represents only 3.3% of the total tonnage of collected household waste (Table
12). EPA municipal waste characterisation studies (EPA, 2008) summarised in Table F-1 of Appendix F indicate that
food and garden waste (organics) comprise c. 30% by weight of the gross household waste stream. This equates to
an estimate „available‟ organic waste content of c. 348,346 t in the collected household waste stream, of which
37,920 t is reported separately collected (Table 12). Even if one factors in the home composting estimate (36,713 t,
refer Appendix B) and the organic waste delivered by households to civic amenity sites (21,219 t) there remains a
conservative estimate of c. 250,000 t available organic waste in the managed household waste stream that is not
separately collected.
16
Table 12: Separate collection of household organic waste
2007
2008
Separate kerbside collection of
household food and garden waste
(brown bins) (t)
Separate kerbside collection of
household food and garden waste
(brown bins) (t)
Local authority
Private operators
Local authority
Private operators
Dublin City
1,315
-
8,287
266
Fingal
3,266
-
10,210
338
Galway City
4,163
1,968
4,603
1,573
-
889
-
932
368
-
340
-
Local authority
Galway County
Kerry
Kildare
-
-
-
59
Louth
-
346
-
2,898
Mayo
-
127
-
32
Meath
-
-
-
23
Monaghan
-
27
-
225
North Tipperary
-
-
-
22
South Dublin
-
36
-
1,312
Waterford City
3,976
-
3,584
280
Waterford County
2,123
-
2,342
65
Westmeath
90
-
86
-
Wexford
10
-
68
375
15,312
3,393
29,520
8,400
Sub-Total (t)
Household organic waste
collected at civic amenity sites
(t)
Total (t)
19,611
21,219
38,316
59,139
(Source: local authority survey)
Civic amenity sites and bring banks
Local authorities were surveyed to gather data on civic amenity sites and bring banks. The quantity of waste
deposited at civic amenity sites decreased by 1.4% in 2008 to 200,455 t. The tonnage of waste collected at bring
banks increased by 7%, to a total of 102,300 t. Further information on waste collection infrastructure is provided in
Section 10.5 of this report.
Appendices C and D provide information on waste types and respective quantities collected at bring banks and civic
amenity sites in 2008. Civic amenity sites also accept waste for disposal in addition to recovery, e.g. mixed residual
waste and some hazardous waste.
One issue that came to light when compiling the data was that it is difficult to report data separately for waste brought
to bring banks, civic amenity sites and community recycling centres (which might be set up on a temporary basis
during the year), and so individual scheme data between local authority areas and even between years is not directly
comparable; however, overall there was a 1.3% increase in the tonnage of waste brought to these facilities
collectively in 2008, compared to that reported for 2007.
17
Uncollected household waste
In order to estimate the number of households that are not provided with, or choose not to avail of, waste collection
services, local authorities are asked to report on the number of households served with collection services in their
functional areas. Nationally, an estimated 80% of occupied households availed of a kerbside collection service in
2008. In some areas, participation rates are as low as 35%, while in some of the larger urban centres, coverage is
reported to be 100% (see also Section 10.5 of this report). The waste generated at households that do not avail of
kerbside waste collection services (whether by choice or lack of service) is referred to as “uncollected waste”. The
quantity is calculated by each local authority using a standard methodology and is adjusted to take account of local
conditions such as the number of holiday or unoccupied houses, estimates of bin-sharing and the quantifiable use of
alternative outlets (such as local civic amenity sites, bring banks and landfills). In 2008, the national estimate of
uncollected household waste was 120,459 t, an 11% decrease on the 135,678 t estimated in 2007. This drop in
uncollected waste is likely due to better statistical accounting on behalf of local authorities. The CSO census data for
2008 indicated a population growth since 2007 of 83,100 persons, yet the percentage of population availing of a
collection service remained similar to 2007 levels (80%).
3.3
Commercial waste
For the purposes of statistical handling, „commercial waste‟ includes waste arising from non-commercial municipal
premises such as schools, hospitals etc., as well as non-process industrial waste (from canteens, offices, packaging
waste etc.). After household waste, the commercial waste stream is the next largest component of municipal waste.
The reported collection and management of commercial waste decreased by 4.6% to 1,477,397 t in 2008, from
1,549,075 t in 2007. Landfill decreased by 1.2% since 2007, yielding a concurrent 1.2% rise in commercial waste
recovery rates (Table 13). The reported increase in recovery rates is encouraging and occurred notwithstanding the
well publicised and challenging international trading position in the recyclates market in the second half of 2008. The
typically higher quality of commercial dry recyclables contributed to the relative stability in its market position.
Table 13: Disposal and recovery in the commercial waste stream, 2008
Quantity
managed (t)
Total
1,477,397
Quantity
landfilled43 (t)
National
landfill rate (%)
758,178
Quantity
recovered (t)
51
719,219
National recovery
rate (%)
49
(Source: recovery organisations survey, landfill survey and municipal waste composition survey)
A survey of the character and composition of commercial waste was carried out in 2008. The results are summarised
in Table F-5 of Appendix F and the full report is available for download at:
www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/waste/plans/name,11659,en.html
43
Includes 55,631 t of non-process industrial waste landfilled.
18
4 BIODEGRADABLE MUNICIPAL WASTE
Biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) comprises those elements of the household, commercial (including nonprocess industrial waste) and cleansing waste streams that will rot or degrade. The main constituents of the
biodegradable proportion of municipal waste are typically parks and garden waste, food waste, timber, paper, card
and textiles. There are two key pieces of EU legislation that deal with biodegradable waste. The first is the new
Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC), Article 22 of which requires separate collection of biowaste (putrescible
portion of biodegradable wastes). The second EU instrument is the Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) which requires the
diversion of biodegradable waste from landfill.
4.1
EU Landfill Directive
The EU Landfill Directive, which came into effect on 16th July 2001, amongst other matters, sets out a number of
obligations in relation to waste acceptance at different classes of landfills. One of the main acceptance obligations is
that operators of landfills are not permitted to accept waste unless it has been pre-treated (including diversion).
These waste diversion and pre-treatment obligations are set out in Articles 5 and 6 of the Landfill Directive.
In accordance with Article 6 of the Landfill Directive and via the obligations in their waste licences, landfill operators
are expected to be able to demonstrate that all waste accepted at the landfill has been subjected to pre-treatment.
This is binding from 16th July 2001 for any facilities commenced since that date; and imposes a binding obligation
effective on the 16th July 2009 for all landfill facilities operational at the time of transposition of the Directive (16th
July 2001). Article 5 of the Directive sets out a requirement for Member States to establish a national strategy for the
reduction of biodegradable waste going to landfills44. In addition, Article 5 sets out specific pre-treatment obligations
for BMW. These BMW diversion obligations are a sub-set of the waste treatment requirements, and have specific
limitations in respect of the tonnage of BMW that can be accepted at landfills. These limitations – which are tied to
the 1995 statistical base year for waste production in Ireland
45
– are phased, with each phase possessing a stricter
obligation in relation to diversion. Ireland negotiated with the EU Commission for a four-year extension to the first two
compliance dates specified in Article 5 (2006 to 2010, and 2009 to 2013 respectively).
These obligations can be summarised as follows:
th
By 16 July 2010 Ireland can only landfill a maximum 75% of the BMW generated in 1995;
th
By 16 July 2013 Ireland can only landfill a maximum 50% of the BMW generated in 1995;
th
By 16 July 2016 Ireland can only landfill a maximum 35% of the BMW generated in 1995.
The calculations of BMW generated in 1995 assume a 100% biodegradability for organics, paper and card, textiles,
and wood. No biodegradability factor was assigned to municipal fines. Tables F-1 and F-5 of Appendix F present the
average composition of collected household and commercial wastes (by weight %) from the latest municipal waste
characterisation survey (EPA, 2008). The nature and composition of municipal waste streams has evolved since
1995, as has the sophistication of the national and international understanding of the character of municipal waste.
This new knowledge merits a re-examination of the basis for calculation of the biodegradability of managed municipal
waste streams.
44
45
The National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste. DEHLG, 2006.
National Waste Database Report for report year 1995. EPA, 1996.
19
4.2
Review of the biodegradable content of municipal waste
The International Review of Waste Management Policy in Ireland undertaken by Eunomia et al., (2009) for the
DEHLG recommends reconsideration of the 100% biodegradability factor assigned to textiles used in the previous
assessment of the degradable proportion of MSW in Ireland. Non-biodegradable materials are common-place in
modern fabrics. Tables F-1 and F-5 of Appendix F reflect this suggestion of adopting a 50% biodegradability factor for
textiles, in line with that adopted in the UK.
Although wood is commonly cited as biodegradable, it does not have the rapid degradability of the other degradable
waste streams. The anaerobic environment of a typical landfill does not promote rapid degradation of wood. The
reported calculation method adopted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for carbon storage
in landfill assign a 50% biodegradability for wood. Other international workers believe that this figure should reduce to
c. 20%46. This report (refer Appendix F) adopts the 50% figure employed by the IPCC.
There are other partially degradable elements in the household and commercial waste streams including a proportion
of the composition of nappies, composite packaging, etc.
Material classed as „fines‟ makes up a significant proportion of residual waste bins and typically comprises a mix of
organic (e.g. fine food waste fragments) and inorganic (grit, ash) material with a grain size <20mm. This too is
assigned a degradability factor of 50% - this factor being influenced by direct observation and results in the EPA
funded national municipal waste characterisation studies.
Tables F-1 and F-5 of Appendix F present the revised biodegradability factors for the different components of the
household and commercial waste streams.
As a consequence of this review to the BMW factors for the content of municipal waste streams, it falls necessary to
revise the 1995 baseline BMW figures. This 1995 base-year recalculation yields a biodegradability factor of 61.9% for
household waste and 79.6% for commercial wastes (based on the EPA 1995 characterisation studies). The National
Waste Report 2005 estimated 1,848,232 t of municipal waste arisings, comprising 1,324,521 t of household waste,
476,920 t of commercial waste, and 46,791 t of cleansing waste. Applying the relevant biodegradability factor to
these tonnages (cleansing waste is treated same as household waste for these purposes) yields the data presented
in Table 14.
On the face of it, this recalculation has the appearance of putting Ireland further from its target (the recalculated
figures are an approximate 5% reduction on the previous targets). However, given the growth in BMW generation
since 1995 (nearly doubled), the benefits of the revised calculation will be magnified and will ensure that more of the
diversion and treatment achievements with regard to available biodegradable material can be factored in (e.g. fines
stabilisation).
46
See for example, Ximenes, F.X et al., (2008). The decomposition of wood products in Sydney Australia. Waste Management 28
(2008) pp. 2344–2354
20
Table 14: Targets for biodegradable waste diversion from landfill (per Directive 1999/31/EC)
Baseline
Quantity BMW generated (t)
47
1995
1,220,840
Targets
4.3
Target year48
Landfill Directive target
Maximum quantity allowed to be landfilled (t,
rounded) (revised calculation method)
2010
75% of quantity BMW generated in 1995
916,000
2013
50% of quantity BMW generated in 1995
610,000
2016
35% of quantity BMW generated in 1995
427,000
Municipal biodegradable waste arisings 2008
The complexities of the current national waste management collection and treatment arrangements mean that it is no
longer appropriate to apply one generic biodegradability factor for all municipal waste. Accordingly it is appropriate to
examine the components of municipal waste arisings and treated fractions, and apply individual biodegradability
factors to each, where available. This is made possible by detailed EPA characterisation studies on commercial and
household waste streams.49
Biodegradable content of household waste
The results of the household stream biodegradability assessment are presented in Appendix F (see Tables F-2, F-3,
and F-4). From these tables it is possible to compile an accurate material flow or stream based assessment of the
biodegradable content of household wastes. This indicates that the household stream produced 906,302 t of
available biodegradable waste in 2008 (biodegradable in a landfill), of which an estimated 581,037 t was consigned
to landfill (Table 15).
Biodegradable content of cleansing waste
The three components of municipal waste are household, commercial (including non-process industrial) and
cleansing wastes. Cleansing waste also reports clean-up of fly-tipped or abandoned household and commercial
wastes, as well as the traditional elements such as sweepings, parks and cemeteries maintenance, and municipal
street bin collections etc. In 2008 a reported 69,546 t of this material was generated. A substantial component of this
waste stream comprises fly-tipped household waste and municipal clean-ups, accordingly a conservative
biodegradability factor equivalent to that of gross household waste (64.5%) is assigned to this material, yielding
44,857 t biodegradable waste available from the cleansing waste stream.
47
Recalculated based on recommendations in International Review regarding biodegradability of textiles. Also revised factors for
biodegradability of fines, nappies, sweepings and undifferentiated combustibles.
48
The Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) allows Ireland to avail of a derogation under Article 5 of the Directive which postpones the
2006 and 2009 targets for 4 years.
49
www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/waste/plans/name,11659,en.html
21
Table 15: BMW content of managed household waste streams reported in 200850
Quantity
collected /
available (t)
Biodegradability
factor
Available BMW
content
(t)
BMW content in
proportion of household
waste stream consigned
to landfill (t)
Residuals bin (or black bin)
862,013
Refer Table F-3
of Appendix F
508,373
508,373
Dry recyclables bin (2nd or green
bin)
261,219
72.9%
190,429
0
Organics bin (3rd or brown bin)
37,920
93.6%
35,493
0
Civic amenity sites and bring banks
302,755
Refer Table F-4
of Appendix F
111,014
48,384
Direct to landfill
37,642
64.5%
24,280
24,280
Home composting
36,713
100%
36,713
0
WEEE collected at retailers
18,617
0
0
0
1,556,879
-
906,302
581,037
Household waste source stream
(Refer Appendix B)
Total:
(Source: local authority survey)
Biodegradable content of commercial wastes
The published EPA funded Municipal Waste Characterisation study (2008)51 yields two biodegradability factors for the
collected commercial waste streams, one for the dry recyclables bin (green or 2
nd
bin) and one for the residuals bin
(black bin), refer Table F-5 in Appendix F. A third bin organics collection service is currently not widely available for
the commercial sector in a statistically relevant quantity. The collection data for the commercial waste sector is not
sufficient to yield an accurate break-down between the tonnage residual bin and tonnage dry recyclable bin in the
collected tonnage. It is therefore appropriate to use the composite biodegradability figure for commercial wastes of
77.2% when calculation of the gross available biodegradable waste. In 2008 1,477,397 t of commercial waste was
reported collected. This yields an available biodegradable waste content of 1,140,550 t. A reported 719,219 t of
commercial waste was reported recovered (including composting of food content, etc.) and a residual 758,178 t
consigned to disposal. The residual proportion will have a biodegradability proportion closer to the commercial black
bin content of 75.2% (see Table F-5 of Appendix F, and EPA Waste Characterisation Survey 2008). Accordingly it is
estimated that the biodegradable proportion of the commercial waste sent to landfill is 570,150 t.
Consolidated municipal waste biodegradability
Table 16 presents the compiled available biodegradability for the above three components of the municipal waste
stream, and the estimate of the biodegradable content in the residual consigned to landfill. In total it is estimated that
2,091,709 t (i.e. 67%) of the managed municipal waste (3,103,820 t) was biodegradable waste, and of this 67%,
1,196,044 t was consigned to landfill (57%). This yields a recycling figure of c. 896,000 t of the available
biodegradable portion of managed municipal waste.
50
51
Excludes uncollected household waste estimates
www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/waste/plans/name,11659,en.html
22
Table 16: BMW content of managed household waste streams reported in 200852
Available biodegradable waste
portion (t)
Managed municipal waste Source Stream
Household
Commercial
Cleansing
Total:
BMW content residual consigned to
landfill (t)
906,302
581,037
1,140,550
570,150
44,857
44,857
2,091,709
1,196,044
Taking these figures and evaluating the „gap‟ to target for 2008, Table 17 shows that Ireland has made significant
inroads into closing the gap between EU biodegradable waste to landfill obligations and current standing. This
achievement is likely influenced by a number of factors such as 100% increase in biowaste collection and diversion
since 2007, greater penetration of separate collection systems, a reduction in municipal waste generation, improved
statistical differentiation between waste streams, and improved ability to factor stream specific biodegradability
content at material flow level rather than use generic factors at clustered waste stream level.
Table 17: Distance to target for EU Landfill Directive diversion in 2008
Target year
Maximum quantity allowed to be landfilled (t, rounded)
2010
916,000
2013
610,000
2016
427,000
Current position
Quantity biodegradable municipal waste landfilled (t)
2008
1,196,044
Current position
Distance to first EU Landfill Directive target (July 2010) (t, rounded)
2008
280,000
Specified diversion targets in EPA landfill licences
The EPA technical guidance document Municipal Solid Waste – Pre-treatment and Residuals Management (2009)
set out the steps expected of EPA landfill licence holders in relation to the EU Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) stated
biodegradable waste diversion obligations. The EPA guidance, which was based on 2007 statistics, stated that a
maximum allowable BMW content in MSW accepted at landfill should be of 40% (by weight) for 2010; 24% (by
weight) for 2013; and, 15% (by weight) for 2016 and subsequent years. This guidance also stated that as further
statistical data became available the EPA would update this direction to the sector, as necessary.
As noted above, Ireland in 2008 landfilled 1,196,044 t of biodegradable waste, which is 280,000 t adrift of the stated
first EU obligation due to be achieved by July 2010 (Table 17). Total municipal waste consigned to landfill in 2008 is
reported as 1,938,712 t. The NWR 2008 data suggests that municipal waste generation is down 5% on previous
years, and the tonnage consigned to landfill is down 1% on previous years. The EPA funded ISus model predicts
further reductions in waste generation (until 2011/2012). In the absence of a significant rise in municipal waste
52
Excludes uncollected household waste estimates
23
generation between the reported 2008 figures and the first Landfill Directive compliance date for biodegradable waste
th
diversion (16 July 2010), then a current diversion target of maximum BMW content of 48% of MSW consigned to
landfill should ensure compliance with EU targets. If the proposed commercial waste biowaste collection regulations
come into effect in early 2010, it is likely the positive effect of this will mean that this landfill limit can be raised to
50% or more. The fall in GDP since 2007 will also impact on municipal waste generation and will contribute to
reduced biodegradable waste available for landfilling (refer Figure 2). If the data from landfill operators and the waste
industry for the NWR 2009 supports this fall the EPA will, if deemed necessary, revisit the diversion obligations
specified for landfill operators.
Future actions for biodegradable waste
As noted previously, the separate kerbside collection of household food and garden waste (in brown bins) increased
substantially from 18,705 t in 2007 to 37,920 t in 2008 (c. 100% increase). Taking into account household food and
garden waste separately collected at civic amenity sites and community bring centres, the quantity of separately
collected household organic waste increased by 20,822 t (54% increase) since 2007, which is a welcome
development.
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, in a 2008 circular 53, requested local authorities to
intensify the roll out of brown bins. The number of local authority areas where household brown bin waste was
collected at kerbside increased from 13 in 2007 to 16 in 2008 (refer Table 11), mainly due to private operators
offering the service. Greater penetration of separate organic waste collections is necessary. The Minister‟s July 2008
circular also signalled an intention to introduce legislation requiring the separate collection of commercial
biodegradable waste and this has considerable potential to divert large quantities of food waste from landfill.
However, this legislation has not been introduced at the time of publication.
The priorities for improvements in biodegradable municipal waste management in Ireland for 2010 are similar to
those identified in the National Waste Report for 2007:
Continue to promote food waste prevention through the National Waste Prevention Programme initiatives
such as StopFoodWaste.ie, Green Business and Green Hospitality Awards;
Putting in place the services for the separate collection of organic (particularly food) waste at households and
commercial premises;
Ensuring there is adequate infrastructure to treat the very large quantities of organic (particularly food) waste
that must be collected separately and diverted from landfill;
Developing outlets for the products of such treatment;
Making regulations/bye-laws that can be used to enforce the segregation and separate collection of food
waste at household and commercial premises;
Delivering the new waste policy on foot of the International Review of Waste Management Policy in Ireland as
quickly as possible to provide certainty and to allow for accelerated investment programmes that are
necessary if organic waste is to be treated and landfill avoided.
53
Circular WPPR 17/08, 31 July 2008, to each county and city manager.
24
5 PACKAGING WASTE
Table 18 shows that the gross quantity of packaging waste managed in 2008 was slightly down on 2007; however,
the actual recovery rate actually increased marginally. Figure 6 shows the recovery rate for packaging waste from
2001 to 2008 and shows that packaging recovery rates have been, and are likely to remain, compliant with all
statutory targets.
Municipal waste composition surveys conducted in 2008 show that the quantity of packaging in the residual black bin
decreased54. The tonnage of packaging waste landfilled (Table 18) is based on these composition factors. The
tonnage of packaging waste recovered is based on data provided by recovery operators. The composition studies
also provide comprehensive information on the contamination of the different packaging waste streams. Up to 20%,
or more in some cases, of the weight of packaging waste contains food and food residues and these residues are
discounted from the packaging figures on both the landfill and recovery side of the equation. As a consequence of
reduced tonnage of packaging waste landfilled, and a stable quantity recovered, the packaging recovery rate
increased from 63.6% in 2007 to 64.7% in 2008. The Packaging Directive sets minimum non-energy use recycling
targets for materials contained in packaging waste (e.g. plastics, wood) by December 2011. The EPA will work with
waste operators to determine the percentage recovery/recycling elements of processes in Ireland and abroad in order
to be able to report accurately on these targets.
In late-2008 there was a significant price reduction in the international recyclates market. One effect of the price drop
was that at the end of 2008 there was a considerable quantity of mixed dry recyclables and packaging waste in
storage (an estimated 40,000 t more that was in storage at the end of 2007). Waste in temporary storage/transit is
not included in the statistics for recovery or disposal.
Table 18: Packaging waste generation, disposal and recovery, 2008
Gross quantity
managed (t)
Material
Quantity
landfilled (t)
National landfill
rate (%)
Quantity
recovered55 (t)
National
recovery rate
(%)
Paper and cardboard
406,468
88,473
21.8
317,995
78.2
Glass
157,848
41,197
26.1
116,652
73.9
Plastic
248,046
176,265
71.1
71,781
28.9
Ferrous
52,647
15,409
29.3
37,237
70.7
Aluminium
12,252
9,497
77.5
2,754
22.5
Mixed metals
2,670
774
29.0
1,896
71.0
Textiles
1,801
1,787
99.2
14
0.8
111,014
1,211
1.1
109,803
98.9
58
28,102
82.6
5,911
17.4
362,716
35.3
664,043
64.7
Wood
57
Other
34,013
Total
1,026,759
56
(Source: recovery organisations survey)
54
See EPA funded Waste Composition Surveys at www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/waste/plans/name,11659,en.html
Recovery operators reported that 30,347 t of packaging waste was used as a fuel.
Does not include a reported 5,675 t wood pallets immediately reused without refurbishment.
57
Composites, contaminated packaging and refuse derived fuel.
58
Not including refuse derived fuel.
55
56
25
70
64.7
63.6
2011 Target: 60%
60
58.9
Recovery rate (%)
56.4
50
57.3
2005 Target: 50%
51.2
40
33.0
30
20
2001 Target: 25%
25.3
10
0
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Year
Figure 6: Recovery of packaging waste, 2001 2008, and progress towards targets
The Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations 2007 provide for producers of packaging waste to either join a
compliance scheme or self-comply under the Regulations. Local authorities are responsible for enforcement of the
Packaging Regulations. All 34 local authorities responded to an EPA survey on packaging self-compliers registered
in their functional area in 2008. The data provided by local authorities was supplemented with information provided by
DEHLG. The data is outlined in Table 19. Five local authorities reported no registered self-compliers in their area
(Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Waterford County and Wexford). Local authorities reported very good compliance with
59
reporting obligations.
The tonnage reported in Table 19 is tonnage of packaging placed on the market for the
calendar year 2008. The EPA‟s survey of recovery operators captures data on waste packaging managed, whether
on behalf of self-compliers or members of the packaging compliance scheme members.
59
Three premises failed to report. In Dublin City Council one self-complying producer registered in November 2008, and a second
failed to insert a second newspaper notice as required under the Packaging Regulations, 2007. In Fingal County Council one selfcomplying producer registered with the compliance scheme.
26
Table 19: Packaging self-compliers reported in local authority areas in 2008
Number of
companies
Number of
premises
Quantity of packaging placed
on the market, as reported by
self-compliers (t)
Carlow
1
2
12
Cavan
5
5
22,920
Clare
2
4
3,643
Cork City
2
2
35
Cork County
3
7
339
Donegal
0
0
0
Dublin City
18
28
3,589
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown
11
12
3,475
Fingal
22
22
4,125
Galway City
6
11
329
Galway County
2
14
109
Kerry
2
2
343
Kildare
4
5
571
Kilkenny
3
4
411
Laois
1
1
19
Leitrim
0
0
0
Limerick City
1
3
30
Limerick County
6
6
4,322
Longford
2
2
58
Louth
3
3
165
Mayo
3
9
639
Meath
8
9
780
Monaghan
4
4
417
North Tipperary
1
3
19
Offaly
1
5
14
Roscommon
4
6
135
Sligo
0
0
0
South Dublin
24
25
23,137
South Tipperary
2
3
106
Waterford City
1
2
12
Waterford County
0
0
0
Westmeath
1
2
17
Wexford
0
0
0
Wicklow
9
11
4,360
152
212
74,130
Local authority
Total
(Source: local authority packaging self-compliers survey, DEHLG)
27
6 WASTE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive60 aims to prevent the generation of WEEE and to
facilitate the achievement of targets for the collection and treatment of WEEE in an environmentally sound manner.
The WEEE Regulations61 transpose the WEEE Directive into Irish law, and obligations under the WEEE Regulations
came into effect in Ireland on 13 August 2005. The data on WEEE collection and treatment in Ireland in 2008 is
based on information supplied by WEEE recovery operators, by local authorities and by the WEEE compliance
schemes62.
Table 20 shows that 51,964 t of WEEE were collected in Ireland in 2008. This quantity is very similar to the overall
figure reported for 2007. However, in 2008, 10% less „waste white goods‟ were collected than in 2007; whereas 9%,
13% and 22% more „waste TVs and monitors‟, „waste lighting equipment‟ and „other WEEE, respectively, arose in
2008 than in 2007.
Just over half of the total WEEE collected in 2008 was exported to other EU countries for treatment. This represents
a considerable increase in comparison to the 20% exported in 2007. The trend reflects the decrease in Ireland‟s
capacity to recover WEEE. The non-hazardous WEEE imported to Ireland for treatment amounted to 2,137 t (see
Table 6) and hazardous WEEE imports amounted to 167 t in 2008.
On average, 9 kg of WEEE were collected from each person living in the Republic of Ireland in 2008. This quantity is
more than double the 4 kg per person specified by the WEEE Directive.
On and from 1 December 2008, producers are responsible for meeting targets for the percentage recovery, and the
percentage component, material and substance reuse and recycling of WEEE sent for treatment. Estimated recovery
and recycling percentages are summarised in Table 1 of the Introduction. These estimates suggest that the Republic
of Ireland exceeds all WEEE treatment targets set by EU and national legislation.
Table 20: WEEE collected, treated, exported and stored in 2008
Fridges and
freezers
Large
household
appliances63
6,678
22,788
7,494
519
14,486
51,964
Treated in ROI (t)
1
9,504
7,014
480
6,893
23,892
Exported to EU (t)
6,669
13,297
599
26
6,945
27,537
5,929
18,257
6,789
448
11,981
43,404
9
-13
-120
12
648
536
Collected (t)
TVs and
monitors
Lighting
equipment64
Other
WEEE65
Total WEEE
(t)
Of which:
66
Recovered (t)
Change in stock67 (t)
(Source: recovery organisations survey)
60
Council Directive 2002/96/EC on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
Waste Management (Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations, 2005 (S.I. No. 290 of 2005) and Waste Management
(Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations, 2005 (S.I. No. 340 of 2005 as amended by S.I. No. 375 of 2008).
62
WEEE Ireland (www.weeeireland.ie) and European Recycling Platform (www.erp-recycling.org).
63
For example dishwashers, washing machines, cookers.
64
Includes all fluorescent lamps (including compact fluorescent lamps), high and low pressure gas discharge lamps, and lighting or
equipment for the purpose of spreading or controlling light with the exception of household luminaires.
65
For example stereos, telephones, toys, vacuum cleaners, toasters.
66
This figure includes WEEE prepared for reuse (spare parts and whole appliances).
67
These are the differences between the amounts of WEEE present at recovery operators‟ premises at the beginning and at the end
of 2008.
61
28
7 CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTE
An estimate of construction and demolition (C&D) waste collected in 2008 is derived from data submitted by waste
collection permit (WCP) holders in their annual environmental reports (AERs) to the local authorities. The EPA
compiles data provided by the 34 local authorities to estimate total C&D waste collected nationally. Some 3,637 WCP
holders were authorised to collect C&D waste in 2008, of whom 2,432 submitted an AER to the local authorities,
representing a 67% reporting rate. Based on the WCP data provided by the local authorities, the total quantity of C&D
waste collected in Ireland in 2008 is estimated at 13.5 million tonnes, a substantial drop of 24% since 2007. The bulk
of this waste comprised of soil and stones (10.5 million tonnes). The remaining 3.0 million tonnes of C&D waste
collected consisted of other waste materials such as rubble, metals, timber, plastic, glass and mixed C&D waste.
Information on the recovery and disposal of C&D waste is derived from three sources: EPA-licensed landfills, which
submit a landfill survey return, EPA-licensed waste treatment facilities, which submit a recovery organisations survey,
and waste permit (WP) holders, who submit AERs to the local authority. A total of 1,382 WP holders were authorised
to accept C&D waste in 2008, of whom 812 submitted an AER to the local authorities, representing a 59% reporting
rate.
Table 21 outlines the management of the largest fraction of C&D waste, soil and stones. The majority of soil and
stone was reported as recovered (8.4 million tonnes), which represents a 79% recovery rate (based on the tonnage
of soil and stones reported as collected by WCP holders). Of the non-soil and stones fraction of C&D waste, some
1.8 million tonnes was reported as recovered, which represents a 62% recovery rate (Table 22). Overall, the total
quantity of C&D waste reported as managed in 2008 (10.5 million tonnes) represented a 24% decrease on that
reported in 2007.
There continues to be a large discrepancy between the reported collection of C&D waste, as reported by WCP
holders, and its reported disposal and recovery, as reported by WP holders, EPA-licensed waste treatment facilities
and EPA-licensed landfills. In 2008, there was a gap of 1.9 million tonnes (18%) for soil and stones fraction and a gap
of 1.1 million tonnes (38%) for the non-soil and stones fraction, resulting in an overall gap of just over 3 million
tonnes. Local authorities estimated that non-reporting WCP holders collected approximately 58,098 t of C&D wastes
in 2008 while non-reporting WP holders handled an estimated 477,174 t. This still leaves a gap of 2.7 million tonnes.
Such a gap likely reflects a general lack of attention by the C&D industries, and elements of the waste industry
serving it, of the necessity to maintain good records and the obligation to provide accurate data to the local
authorities annually. There is also an issue with the types of material that the construction industry defines as waste,
which may lead to secondary resources not being properly accounted for. In addition, there is significant potential for
double-reporting by WCP holders across local authority boundaries, potentially leading to an over-reporting of the
quantity of C&D waste collected nationally. In 2010, the EPA proposes to engage directly with this sector with a view
to obtaining an improvement in material classification and data collection. It is expected that this will lead to an
improvement the quality of the C&D waste statistics.
The C&D waste sector have to respond to the high waste production and modest (non-soils) recovery rates by
complying with waste management plan obligations specified by planning authorities for authorised development as
stipulated in Section 22 (10D)(a) of the Waste Management Acts 1996 2008.
29
Table 21: Recovery and disposal of soil and stones fraction of construction and demolition waste, 200868
Recovery (t)
Disposal (t)
Total (t)
EPA-licensed landfills
1,286,320
227,533
1,513,853
Local authority-permitted sites
7,068,543
1,480
7,070,023
11,197
0
11,197
Total
8,366,060
229,013
8,595,073
Recovery rate (%)69
79%
-
-
EPA-licensed waste treatment facilities
(Source: Local authority survey, landfill survey and recovery organisations survey)
Table 22: Recovery and disposal of other construction and demolition waste, 200870
Recovery (t)
Disposal (t)
Total (t)
Metal
478,767
0
478,767
Wood
78,336
0
78,336
Glass
2,771
864
3,635
Plastic
1,602
0
1,602
Gypsum-based waste
6,033
0
6,033
Rubble
425,746
43
425,789
Mixed or other C&D waste
859,598
308
859,906
Total (t)
1,852,853
1,215
1,854,068
Recovery rate (%)69
62%
-
-
(Source: Local authority survey, landfill survey and recovery organisations survey)
68
Excludes contaminated soil, which is discussed separately in Section 9.
Recovery rate based on reported tonnage recovered as a percentage of reported tonnage collected.
70
Excludes asbestos-containing waste, which is discussed separately in Section 9.
69
30
8 INDUSTRIAL WASTE
Industrial waste includes various types of process waste arising from manufacturing industries, mining and quarrying
activities, and power stations. It also includes non-process industrial waste from canteens, offices and ancillary
activities covered by European Waste Catalogue Chapters 15 (packaging waste) and 20 (municipal waste), but
excludes contaminated soil which is reported on separately in Section 9. Information on the generation and treatment
of industrial waste in Ireland is reported every second year in the National Waste Report series and was last reported
in the 2006 National Waste Report. For the current report, 2008 industrial waste data was obtained from 395
companies. This comprised 292 Integrated Pollution Prevention Control (IPPC) licensed companies which report
waste data annually in Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) returns submitted to the Agency, and a
further 103 non-IPPC licensed companies from which waste data was obtained by way of voluntary sample survey. A
scale-up methodology was employed (based on sectoral employment levels obtained from the CSO) to estimate the
total (projected) waste generated in each of the industrial sectors from the reported data.
Total projected generation of industrial waste, including non-process industrial waste, decreased by 31% from 9.2
million tonnes in 2006 to 6.4 millions tonnes in 2008, as indicated in Table 23. A major contributor to this overall
decrease was the mining and quarrying sector, where the projected waste generated fell from 4.8 million tonnes in
2006 to 2.1 million tonnes in 2008. This decline stems mainly from the exclusion from the 2008 dataset of some nonhazardous mining residues which were previously reported as wastes but are now considered a resource,
71
subsequent to a 2003 ruling by the European Court of Justice ; these materials comprised of surplus rock stored onsite prior to being used off-site as an engineering material, and non-hazardous tailings used as engineered backfill in
the mine construction process. These materials amounted to 2.53 million tonnes in 2006; when they are excluded
from the 2006 dataset, there was a real decline of 220,507 t (10%) in the waste generated by the mining sector
between 2006 and 2008. Total manufacturing waste decreased marginally by c. 1%, from 4.07 million tonnes in 2006
to 4.03 million tonnes in 2008.
The ten largest non-hazardous and hazardous industrial wastes generated in 2008 are presented in Table 24 and
Figure 7. These top ten waste categories represented 82% of all hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated.
The EPA regulates the majority of these significant waste generators under IPPC licence. Comparing the 2008 top
ten lists with similar data for 2006, mining remains the predominant generator of non-hazardous industrial waste,
despite the exclusion from the 2008 dataset of large quantities of mining residues that are no longer classified as
wastes, as discussed above. Waste tailings from Tara, Anglo-American Lisheen and Galmoy Mines collectively
accounted for 38% of the total reported non-hazardous industrial waste in 2008, while a further 23% consisted of red
mud from aluminium producer Aughinish Alumina. Waste from the slaughtering and rendering, brewing and timber
industries continued to contribute strongly in 2008. Both peat flyash and coal flyash from ESB power stations were in
the top ten list of non-hazardous wastes, although it is worth noting that 76% of the coal flyash from Moneypoint was
recycled and used in cement manufacture in 2008. As in previous years, solvents and other process wastes from the
chemical and pharmaceutical sectors accounted for the majority of the hazardous industrial wastes generated in
2008. In particular, there was a notable 22% increase in the generation of waste organic solvents (07 05 04*), up
from 88,000 t in 2006 to 107,031 t in 2008 (see Section 9 for details).
Details on the disposal and recovery of industrial waste in 2008 are provided in Tables 25, 26 and 27 and Figure 8.
The vast majority of the reported industrial waste generated in Ireland was managed in the State, either on-site at
industry (68%) or off-site at commercial waste facilities (28%) (Table 26). On-site management included, for example,
71
European Court of Justice Case C-114/01 (AvestaPolarit Chrome) judgement 11 September 2003.
31
the disposal of large quantities of mine tailings in on-site lagoons at Tara, Anglo-American Lisheen and Galmoy
Mines and the landfill of red mud on-site at Aughinish Alumina. It also includes the treatment of 72,038 t of hazardous
industrial waste on-site at IPPC-licensed pharmaceutical and chemical companies, discussed in Section 9. Overall in
2008, some 25% of reported industrial waste was recovered and 75% was disposed (Table 26). This represents a
decrease from the 38% recovery of industrial waste reported in the NWR 2006, largely due to the exclusion from the
current dataset of large quantities of mining materials used as backfill or in other construction activities, which had
previously been reported under the recovery codes R13 and R5.
Overall, industrial waste generation decreased significantly since the last industry survey in 2006. It is apparent that
official reclassifications of some materials as resources, particularly in the mining sector, were a major factor
contributing to this overall decrease. The generation of waste in the manufacturing sector, on the other hand,
decreased only marginally by 1%. The quality of data, however, remains poor in many industrial sectors. There
continues to be a need for greater attention to be paid by industries to the obligation to accurately record waste
generation and management and to use existing guidance and advice on waste quantification and monitoring.
32
Table 23: Reported and projected generation of industrial waste, 2008 (scaled up to 100% coverage) 72
NACE
code73
Sector
Hazardous waste
(t)
Non-hazardous waste
(t)
Total industrial waste
(t)
Reported
Projected
Reported
Projected
Reported
Projected
Manufacturing
Food products, beverages and
tobacco
C 10 C 12
1,306
2,657
920,956
1,593,040
922,262
1,595,697
Textiles, wearing apparel,
leather
C 13 C 15
10
47
6,954
14,450
6,965
14,497
Wood and paper products
C 16 C 17
241
702
241,476
291,832
241,717
292,534
C18
116
1,879
7,478
121,519
7,594
123,398
9,041
11,257
17,700
17,138
26,741
28,395
Printing
Petroleum, chemical and
chemical products
C 19 C 20
Pharmaceutical products
C 21
137,468
146,930
51,633
55,466
189,100
202,397
Rubber and plastic products
C 22
1,414
1,577
4,761
34,957
6,175
36,533
Non-metallic mineral products
C 23
6,799
23,940
152,438
207,336
159,237
231,276
C 24 C 25
20,481
33,367
1,259,543
1,303,903
1,280,024
1,337,270
Computer, electronic and
optical products
C 26
2,990
3,295
23,307
33,667
26,297
36,961
Other electrical equipment
C 27
4
81
1,658
31,122
1,662
31,204
Machinery and equipment
n.e.c.
C 28
117
1,255
3,934
42,374
4,050
43,630
Motor vehicles
C 29
84
677
433
3,476
517
4,154
C 30 C 32
13,469
16,066
15,019
29,046
28,487
45,112
C 33
1,030
1,142
1,268
1,425
2,298
2,566
194,570
244,873
2,708,557
3,780,752
2,903,127
4,025,625
3,683
2,011,421
2,057,610
2,013,140
2,061,293
Basic metals and structural
metal products
Other manufacturing
Repair and installation of
equipment
Sub-total manufacturing
Mining and quarrying
B 05 - B 09
1,719
Electricity generation
D 35.11
1,755
Total
74
198,044
1,755
289,971
250,311
5,009,950
74
289,971
291,726
6,128,334
5,207,994
(Source: IPPC PRTR returns and responses to industry survey)
72
Excludes contaminated soil, which is reported separately in Section 9.
Codes are NACE Rev. 2. Note that the National Waste Report 2006 used NACE Rev. 1.1 codes.
74
Projected quantity same as reported quantity, as all power stations are IPPC-licensed.
73
33
74
291,726
6,378,644
Table 24: Top ten reported non-hazardous and hazardous industrial wastes generated in 2008
EWC
code
Non-hazardous industrial waste
description
Principal source(s)
NACE sector
Quantity (t)
01 03 06
Tailings from physical and chemical
processing of metalliferous minerals
Tailings from Tara, Lisheen and
Galmoy Mines
B 07
1,925,007
01 03 09
Red mud from alumina production
Red mud from Aughinish Alumina
C 24
1,148,738
02 02 02
Animal tissue waste
Slaughtering and rendering
C 10
216,184
10 01 02
Coal fly ash
ESB Moneypoint
C 35
147,400
10 01 03
Fly ash from peat & untreated wood
ESB peat burning power stations
C 35
113,316
02 07 99
Other wastes from the production of
alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages
Breweries
C 11
109,667
03 01 99
Other waste from wood processing and
the production of panels and furniture
Timber processors
C 16
109,703
02 02 03
Materials unsuitable for consumption or
processing
Slaughtering and rendering
C 10
102,388
01 03 99
Wastes from the physical and chemical
processing of metalliferous minerals not
otherwise specified
Aughinish Alumina, Gypsum
Industries
C 14, B 07
101,739
02 02 99
Other waste from the preparation and
processing of meat, fish and other foods
of animal origin
Slaughtering and rendering
C 10
87,621
Total
4,061,761
NACE sector
Quantity (t)
C 21
107,031
EWC
code
Hazardous industrial waste description
Principal source(s)
07 05 04*
Organic solvents
Pharmaceutical industries
07 05 03*
Organic halogenated solvents
Pharmaceutical industries
C 21
13,864
01 03 07*
Other wastes containing dangerous
substances from physical & chemical
processing of metalliferous minerals
Saltcake from Aughinish Alumina
C 24
12,595
07 05 01*
Aqueous washing liquids
Pharmaceutical industries
C 21
9,343
14 06 03*
Other waste solvents & solvent mixtures
Manufacture of medical & dental
instruments
C 32
7,400
07 07 08*
Still bottoms & reaction residues
Chemical industry
C 20
4,173
07 05 13*
Solid waste containing dangerous
substances
Pharmaceutical industry
C 21
3,337
10 11 19*
Gypsum
Waterford Crystal
C 23
2,583
11 01 05*
Pickling acids
Metal fabricators
C 24
2,324
15 02 02*
Absorbents, filter materials, wiping
clothes, protective clothing contaminated
by dangerous substances
Various industries
All sectors
2,085
Total
164,736
(Source: IPPC PRTR returns and responses to industry survey)
75
75
Excludes contaminated soil and large quantities of C&D waste such as soil and stone.
34
Non-hazardous
(t) waste (t)
(A)
2006
2008
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
99
02
02
99
03
03
01
02
05
02
03
01
99
02
07
03
10
01
02
10
01
02
02
02
09
03
01
01
03
06
0
EWC code
2006
2008
100,000
(B)
80,000
(t)
Hazardous waste (t)
120,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
*
15
02
02
*
01
05
*
11
10
11
19
*
07
05
13
*
07
07
08
*
14
06
03
*
07
05
01
*
01
03
07
*
03
05
07
07
05
04
*
0
EWC code
Figure 7: Top ten76 reported (A) non-hazardous and (B) hazardous industrial wastes generated in 2008 in
comparison to the reported quantities generated in 200677. (Refer to Table 25 for waste descriptions and
principal sources).
76
Excludes contaminated soil and large quantities of C&D waste such as soil and stone.
To ensure comparability, the tailings (01 03 06) total for 2006 includes 1,170,810 t of non-hazardous tailings assigned 01 03 05*
by Lisheen Mine in the National Waste Report 2006 (Table 23) and excludes 1,405,281 t of tailings used as backfill at Tara and
Lisheen Mines, which is no longer classified as a waste.
77
35
90
80
70
%
60
50
2006
40
2008
30
20
10
0
Recovery
Disposal
Recovery
Hazardous
Disposal
Non-hazardous
Figure 8: Disposal and recovery of reported hazardous and non-hazardous industrial waste, 2006 and 200878
Table 25: Location of treatment of reported industrial waste, 2008 78
79
80
On-site at
industry (t)
Recovery
Disposal
Off-site in
Ireland (t)
Exported (t)
82,096
1,059,127
140,257
1,281,479
3,442,339
423,798
59,384
3,925,521
Unspecified
992
992
Storage
Total (t)
1
Total
3,524,435
1,483,918
199,641
5,207,994
(Source: IPPC PRTR returns and responses to industry survey)
78
Note that this is the reported quantity of industrial waste (5,107,994 t), not the projected quantity (6,378,644 t) stated in Table 23.
Total excludes contaminated soil, which is reported separately in Section 9.
79
On-site at industry‟ refers to waste recovered or disposed on-site at the industrial facility where it was generated.
80
„Off-site in Ireland‟ refers to waste sent to commercial waste treatment facilities in Ireland for recovery or disposal.
36
Table 26: Disposal and recovery of reported industrial waste, 200881
Disposal or recovery operation
TFS
code
Hazardous
waste (t)
Non-hazardous
waste (t)
Landfill
D1
14,773
Land treatment
D2
1
Impoundment
D4
Engineered landfill
D5
Release to waters
Release to sea
Biological treatment
D8
1,653,741
Total industrial
waste (t)
1,668,515
34,622
34,623
1,926,061
1,926,062
64,919
69,257
D6
7,930
7,930
D7
156
156
72,399
75,631
4,338
3,232
Physico chemical treatment
D9
5,590
1,602
7,192
Incineration on land
D10
54,979
67,032
122,011
Permanent storage
D12
23
Blending or mixing
D13
2,724
9,456
12,180
Repackaging prior to disposal
D14
7
424
431
Storage prior to disposal
D15
316
1,194
1,510
85,983
3,839,538
3,925,521
43%
77%
75%
23
Sub-total disposal
D
Use as fuel (other than in direct incineration) or
other means to generate energy
R1
15,065
230,509
245,574
Solvent recovery
R2
50,983
159
51,141
Organic substance recycling
R3
1,308
243,343
244,651
Metal recovery
R4
6,223
94,130
100,353
Inorganic substance recycling
R5
3,035
177,980
181,015
Regeneration of acids or bases
R6
3,264
39
3,304
Recovery of components used for pollution
abatement
R7
15
32
47
Recovery of components from catalysts
R8
72
Oil recovery
R9
3,521
616
4,137
Landspreading
R10
64
227,646
227,710
Use of residuals
R11
293
176,519
176,812
Waste exchange prior to recovery
R12
7,667
8,490
16,157
Storage prior to recovery
R13
Sub-total recovery
Unspecified
R
U
Total
72
20,547
9,961
30,508
112,056
1,169,424
1,281,480
57%
23%
25%
5
<0.1%
987
<0.1%
992
<0.1%
198,044
5,009,950
5,207,994
(Source: IPPC PRTR returns and responses to industry survey)
81
Note that this is the reported quantity of industrial waste (5,107,994 t), not the projected quantity (6,378,644 t) stated in Table 23.
Total excludes contaminated soil, which is reported separately in Section 9.
37
Table 27: Disposal and recovery of reported waste in surveyed industrial sectors, 2008
NACE
code83
Sector
Disposal
(t)
Recovery
(t)
82
Unspecified
(t)
Total
(t)
Manufacturing
Food products, beverages and
tobacco
C 10 C 12
265,790
656,471
0
922,262
Textiles, wearing apparel,
leather
C 13 C 15
1,414
5,490
60
6,965
Wood and paper products
C 16 C 17
7,111
234,605
0
241,717
334
7,259
1
7,594
Printing
C18
Petroleum, chemical and
chemical products
C 19 C 20
9,959
16,782
0
26,741
Pharmaceutical products
C 21
66,995
122,106
0
189,100
Rubber and plastic products
C 22
2,430
3,745
0
6,175
Non-metallic mineral products
C 23
143,733
15,492
12
159,237
1,248,472
31,552
0
1,280,024
Basic metals and structural
metal products
C 24 C 25
Computer, electronic and optical
products
C 26
3,729
22,443
125
26,297
Other electrical equipment
C 27
160
708
794
1,662
Machinery and equipment n.e.c.
C 28
325
3,725
0
4,050
Motor vehicles
C 29
161
357
0
517
C 30 C 32
7,430
21,058
0
28,487
C 33
1,003
1,295
0
2,298
1,759,046
1,143,088
992
2,903,127
61%
39%
<0.1%
1,988,157
24,983
0
2,013,140
178,317
113,409
0
291,726
3,925,521
1,281,480
992
5,207,994
75%
25%
<0.1%
Other manufacturing
Repair and installation of
equipment
Sub-total manufacturing
Mining and quarrying
B 05 - B 09
Electricity generation
D 35.11
Total
(Source: IPPC PRTR returns and responses to industry survey)
82
Note that this is the reported quantity of industrial waste (5,107,994 t), not the projected quantity (6,378,644 t) stated in Table 23.
Total excludes contaminated soil, which is reported separately in Section 9.
83
Codes are NACE Rev. 2. Note that the National Waste Report 2006 used NACE Rev. 1.1 codes.
38
9 HAZARDOUS WASTE
Waste is classified as being hazardous when it displays properties that make it dangerous or potentially harmful to
human health or the environment. Industry, discussed in Section 8, is the largest generator of hazardous waste in
Ireland, giving rise to hazardous waste materials such as industrial solvents, sludges, oils and chemicals.
Households, small businesses, farms and the healthcare and construction sectors also generate substantial
quantities of hazardous waste such as batteries, electrical equipment, fluorescent lamps, healthcare risk waste,
solvent-based paints and varnishes, pesticides and herbicides, sheep dip and asbestos, among others. As in
previous years, information on the generation and management of hazardous waste in 2008 was compiled from three
sources, based on the location of treatment:
Data on the treatment of hazardous waste on-site at the industry where it was generated, which occurs under
IPPC licence at companies mainly in the pharmachem sector, was obtained from PRTR returns;
Data on the treatment of hazardous waste off-site at commercial facilities in Ireland was obtained by way of
the hazardous waste treatment survey, which was sent to facilities in Ireland that are waste-licensed by the
EPA or permitted by the local authority to treat a range of hazardous wastes;
Data on the authorised export of hazardous waste for recovery or disposal abroad was obtained from records
maintained by the National TFS Office.
Table 28, showing the location of treatment of hazardous waste, illustrates that the total reported quantity of
hazardous waste managed in 2008 was 319,098 t, an increase of 5% since 2007. The largest increase occurred in
the treatment of hazardous waste off-site at commercial facilities in Ireland, which rose by a significant 25% to
113,839 t. There was a smaller 7% increase in the quantity of hazardous waste exported for treatment abroad, which
remained the dominant treatment operation. The increase in off-site treatment was in a large part attributable to the
increased blending of waste solvents at EPA-licensed hazardous waste treatment facilities prior to it being exported
as a waste for use as fuel in cement kilns and incinerators; this increased substantially from 16,573 t in 2007 to
23,986 t in 200884 (Table 29). There were also large increases in solvent recovery and organic substance recovery (in
particular the recovery of waste fuels and oils) at off-site treatment facilities in Ireland in 2008.
While off-site treatment of hazardous waste increased in 2008, the quantity of hazardous wastes recovered or
disposed on-site at IPPC-licensed facilities continued to decrease. A total of 72,038 t of hazardous waste was treated
on-site at 21 IPPC-licensed facilities, down from 88,409 t in 2007. Details on the IPPC-licensed facilities that treated
hazardous waste on-site in 2008 are presented in Table 30.
Collectively, the 2008 data reflected a long-term trend illustrated in Figure 9 and Table 31 whereby the treatment of
hazardous waste on-site at industrial facilities is declining in favour of the use of commercial hazardous waste
treatment facilities in Ireland or abroad.
Figure 10 and Table 32 provide information on the destination and fate of hazardous waste exported from Ireland in
2008 for treatment at authorised facilities abroad. Five European countries (UK, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and
Denmark) received 97% of Irish hazardous waste exports in 2008.
The National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2008-2012 was published by the Agency in 200885. The Plan sets
out the objectives and priority actions for the prevention and improved management of hazardous waste in Ireland.
The EPA has commenced management of projects on priority hazardous waste streams and sectors (e.g. solvents,
garages and to examine the feasibility of a national hazardous waste landfill facility).
84
Over 90% of the waste solvent was blended by Veolia Environmental Services Ltd. (formerly AVR Safeway) (Reg. No. W005002), prior to being exported for use as a fuel.
85
See www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/waste/haz
39
Table 28: Location of treatment of reported hazardous waste, 2008 (excluding contaminated soil)
86
87
On-site at
industry (t)
Category
Solvents
Industrial hazardous waste (other)
Oil waste (mineral oil)
Solvents (halogenated, where specified)
Off-site in
Ireland (t)
Exported (t)
48,150
23,667
58,611
4,776
5,869
33,154
250
31,348
230
5,068
Total (t)
88
107,515
43,799
31,828
88
7,745
8,693
15,298
107
15,406
Asbestos waste
7,462
7,007
14,469
Equipment (electrical, electronic, mechanical)
6,030
7,386
13,416
Oily sludges
Salts and saltcake
12,559
20,433
0
12,559
11,050
11,050
9,170
728
9,898
1,093
1,137
5,278
7,509
Sludges and filter cakes
9
548
6,057
6,613
Paint, ink and varnish waste (including packaging)
6
924
4,843
5,773
2,245
2,917
5,162
204
3,559
3,763
2,534
2,534
746
2,436
1,373
1,410
1,092
1,092
Lead-acid batteries
Healthcare risk waste
Aqueous washing liquids and mother liquors (07 __ 01*)
Acid and alkali waste
Chemical waste (other)
Solid wastes from MFSU of pharmaceuticals (07 05 13*)
Packaging (contaminated or containing residues)
52
Absorbents, wiping cloths etc. (EWC 15 02 02)
36
1,638
Oil filters
Photographic chemical waste
Thermal treatment and other combustion residues
Fluorescent lamps
Laboratory and general chemical waste
17
Batteries (small, non-lead acid)
6
650
656
72
428
500
404
56
427
87
193
297
12
228
240
137
137
71
99
Construction and demolition waste (hazardous)
Metal- and heavy metal-containing waste
23
5
Pesticides, herbicides
71
71
Medicines
3
3
Municipal hazardous waste (other)
0
0
Polychlorinated biphenyls
0
0
157,207
319,098
Totals
72,038
113,839
(Source: IPPC PRTR annual returns; hazardous waste treatment survey; TFS records, recovery organisations survey for WEEE)
86
„On-site at industry‟ refers to hazardous waste recovered or disposed on-site at the industrial facility where it was generated,
under IPPC licence.
87
„Off-site in Ireland‟ refers to waste sent to commercial hazardous waste treatment facilities in Ireland for recovery or disposal,
under EPA waste licence.
88
A total of 23,986 t of waste solvent (1,073 t of halogenated solvent and 22,913 t of non-halogenated solvent) was blended at
facilities in Ireland prior to export for use as fuel in cement kilns and incinerators. The blended solvents were exported as a waste.
These quantities are correctly counted in both the „treated off-site in Ireland‟ column and the „exported‟ columns. However, they
have been discounted in the „total‟ column to avoid double counting in the total amount of hazardous waste generated.
40
Table 29: Recovery and disposal of hazardous waste in 2008 (excluding contaminated soil)
TFS
code
89
Disposal or recovery activity
D1
Landfill
D4
Impoundment
D5
Engineered landfill
D8
Biological treatment
D9
Physico-chemical treatment
D10
Incineration
D12
Permanent storage
D13
Blending or mixing
D14
Repackaging
D15
Storage pending disposal
Sub-total disposal
On-site at
industry (t)
90
Off-site in
Ireland (t)
12,559
Exported (t)
12,217
0
Total (t)
24,776
0
7,462
9,775
17,237
2,733
4,523
1,792
29,245
20,897
40,505
61,402
23
226
249
124
124
44
44
8
8
67,424
137,610
23,986
21,714
34,026
7,374
33,078
63,958
13,562
6,618
20,559
1,791
322
35,592
R1
Use as fuel
12,312
R2
Solvent recovery
23,506
34,594
91
92
R3
Organic substance recovery
R4
Metal recovery
1,727
23,760
25,487
R5
Inorganic substance recovery
6,030
2,596
8,626
R6
Regeneration of acids and bases
1,543
1,543
R7
Pollution abatement
46
46
R9
Oil recovery
R12
Waste exchange
248
248
R13
Storage pending recovery
146
146
89,749
181,455
33
33
157,207
319,098
Sub-total recovery
U
379
27,131
250
36,446
26,566
79,245
Unspecified
Total
72,038
113,839
26,817
(Source: IPPC PRTR annual returns; hazardous waste treatment survey; TFS records, recovery organisations survey for WEEE)
89
„On-site at industry‟ refers to hazardous waste recovered or disposed on-site at the industrial facility where it was generated.
„Off-site in Ireland‟ refers to waste sent to commercial hazardous waste treatment facilities in Ireland for recovery or disposal.
91
This figure represents the blending of waste solvents prior to their export as waste for use as fuel. To avoid double counting, the
quantity is discounted from the total for this row. See footnote to Table 28 for further details.
92
The increase in R3 (organic substance recycling) in 2008 was largely due to improved treatment of waste fuels and oils by Rilta
Environmental Ltd. (formerly SITA Environmental) (Reg. No. W0192-02), which had previously been assigned D9 by the company.
90
41
Table 30: Treatment of hazardous waste on-site at IPPC-licensed facilities in 2008 (excluding contaminated
soil)
Facility name
IPPC register
number
Waste type
Operation
Quantity
treated (t)
Solvents
R2
164
Other industrial hazardous waste
D9
221
Salts and saltcake
D1
12,559
R2
2,347
D10
3,594
R1
4,173
R9
250
Arch Chemicals
P0060-01
Aughinish Alumina
P0035-04
Bristol Myers Squibb Cruiserath
P0552-02
Solvents
Cognis Ireland
P0052-02
Other industrial hazardous waste
ConocoPhillips Bantry Bay
Terminals
P0419-01
Oil
DIS Enbi Seals Ireland
P0064-01
Oil
R9
0.4
10,812
851
Eli Lilly
P0009-03
Solvents
D10
R2
Galmoy Mines
P0517-01
Metal- & heavy metal-containing waste
D12
23
Irish Industrial Explosives
P0055-01
Other industrial hazardous waste
D10
2
Liebherr Container Cranes
P0146-01
Paint, ink and varnish waste
R2
6
D8
R2
D9
D8
R2
328
7,480
101
1,100
1,507
Mallinckrodt Medical Imaging
P0050-02
Solvents
Merck Sharp & Dohme
P0011-03
Solvents
Millipore Ireland
P0571-01
Solvents
R2
1,062
Laboratory & general chemical waste
D10
17
Contaminated packaging
D10
52
Sludges and filter cakes
D10
9
Solvents, aqueous washing liquids and
mother liquors
D8
R1
R2
D10
363
2,020
3,588
1,094
Novartis Ringaskiddy
P0006-03
Absorbents, wiping cloths
D10
36
Pfizer Cork Ltd
P0103-02
Solvents
R2
159
Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals
P0013-04
Solvents
R2
3,359
Roche Ireland
P0012-04
Solvents
R1
529
Schering Plough (Ireland)
P0015-04
Solvents
D10
1,434
3,848
5,590
386
Smithkline Beecham
P0004-03
Solvents
D10
R1
R2
Swords Laboratories
P0014-04
Solvents
R2
1075
Temmler Ireland
P0813-01
Solvents
R2
1,521
Other industrial hazardous waste
R3
379
Total
(Source: IPPC PRTR annual returns)
42
72,038
180,000
160,000
140,000
Export
120,000
On-site at industry
(t)
100,000
80,000
Offsite in Ireland
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
2001
2004
2006
2007
2008
Year
Figure 9: The location of hazardous waste treatment, 2001 2008 (excluding contaminated soil)
Table 31: Summary of hazardous waste management, 2001 2008 (excluding contaminated soil)
Category
2001
93
On-site at industry (t)
95,566
94
48,013
Off-site in Ireland (t)
Exported (t)
115,366
Total (t)
2002
109,545
2003
2004
170,678
2006
2007
2008
86,328
88,409
82,732
72,038
55,952
60,872
91,240
113,839
134,904
147,542
157,207
165,498
258,945
2005
146,811
307,778
284,184
95
304,941
4
319,098
(Source: IPPC PRTR annual returns; hazardous waste treatment survey; TFS records, recovery organisations survey for WEEE)
Belgium
18%
Netherlands
7%
Denmark
6%
Germany
30%
Northern Ireland
2%
Other
0.5%
France
1%
Great Britain
36%
Figure 10: Destination of exported hazardous waste, 2008 (excluding contaminated soil)
93
„On-site at industry‟ refers to hazardous waste recovered or disposed on-site at the industrial facility where it was generated.
„Off-site in Ireland‟ refers to waste sent to commercial hazardous waste treatment facilities in Ireland for recovery or disposal.
95
To avoid double counting due to the treatment of waste solvents in Ireland, followed by their export as waste for use as a fuel, the
2007 total has been discounted by 16,573 t and the 2008 total has been discounted by 23,986 t – see the footnote to Table 28 for
further details.
94
43
Table 32: Destination and fate of notified hazardous waste exports, excluding contaminated soil, 2008
Disposal (t)
Recovery (t)
Total exports
Unspecified
treatment (t)
Incineration
Physicochemical
treatment
0
6,058
908
0
6,965
301
30,659
16,541
2,748
50,249
0
57,214
36
21,992
17,141
320
144
39,598
3,392
740
1,091
1,484
6,707
0
46,306
29
Belgium
0
7,007
228
837
8,072
17,076
306
3,404
529
21,314
0
29,386
19
Netherlands
0
759
336
2,109
3,204
946
0
23
6,234
7,202
0
10,407
7
Denmark
0
8,899
0
0
8,899
0
0
0
0
0
0
8,899
6
Northern Ireland
0
0
0
0
0
0
58
2,467
202
2,726
0
2,726
2
France
0
4
0
0
4
0
1,185
219
0
1,404
0
1,408
1
Finland
0
559
0
0
559
0
0
0
0
0
0
559
0
USA
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
16
0
16
0
16
0
Sweden
0
3
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
Unspecified
0
119
0
0
119
0
131
0
0
131
33
282
0
21,992
40,549
1,792
3,091
67,424
21,714
33,078
23,760
11,197
89,749
33
157,207
100
Landfill
Great Britain
Germany
Total
Other
disposal
Total
disposal
Use as fuel
(Source: TFS records)
44
Solvent
recovery
Metal
recovery
Other
recovery
Total
recovery
t
%
9.1
Contaminated soil
Table 33 outlines the management of contaminated soil in 2008, including contaminated soil treated off-site in Ireland
at commercial hazardous waste treatment facilities and contaminated soil which was exported for treatment. The data
do not reflect any contaminated soil that was treated in situ at its point of generation. Overall, there was a large
increase in the reported export of contaminated soil to 449,574 t (Table 33). Half of this waste arose from
decommissioning and remediation works undertaken at a closed IPPC-licensed company. There was a slight (2%)
decrease in the treatment of contaminated soil off-site Ireland in 2008 compared with in 2007. The vast majority
(91%) of contaminated soils continued to be exported for treatment, predominantly to Germany where most was
disposed in hazardous landfills. Table 34 outlines trends in contaminated soil generation, management and export
since 2001.
Table 33: Management of contaminated soil, 2008
Exported (t)
96
Disposal or recovery activity
Off-site in Ireland
(t)
Germany
Landfill
184,316
Biological treatment
68,273
Physico-chemical treatment
Netherlands
Total exported
184,316
12,655
80,928
2
30,263
2
285,028
12,655
297,683
43,531
135,980
15,911
151,891
Sub-total recovery
43,431
135,980
15,911
151,891
Total
43,533
421,008
28,566
449,574
Storage pending disposal
30,263
2,176
Sub-total disposal
Inorganic substance recovery
2,176
(Source: Hazardous waste treatment survey and TFS records)
Table 34: Reported off-site management of contaminated soil, 2001 2008
2001
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Off-site in Ireland (t)
8,636 (r)
14,838 (r)
-
36,872 (r)
44,221(r)
2 (d)
43,531 (r)
Exported (total) (t)
159,943
206,299
140,442
370,032
143,906
449,574
14,063 (r)
172,948 (d)
120,455 (d)
341,158 (d)
28,570 (r)
126,859 (d)
14,919 (r)
285,028 (d)
135,980 (r)
305(r)
2,128(r)
12,655 (d)
15,911 (r)
406,904
188,127
493,107
Germany
Netherlands
Belgium
Elsewhere in Europe
Total reported (t)
10,691 (r)
145,192(r)
22,531(r)
742 (r)
126 (r)
19,983 (d)
168,579
221,137
-
Note: (r) = predominantly recovery or recycling; (d) = predominantly disposal.
(Source: Hazardous waste treatment survey and TFS records)
96
„Off-site in Ireland‟ refers to contaminated soil sent to commercial hazardous waste treatment facilities in Ireland for recovery or
disposal.
45
10 WASTE INFRASTRUCTURE AND COLLECTIONS
10.1 Municipal landfill
A total of 32 landfills accepted 2,040,806 t of municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2008 for both recovery and disposal.
One of the 32 landfills did not accept any waste for disposal, i.e. only restoration material comprising composted
municipal organics was accepted. Across all facilities, some 102,092 t was used in a recovery capacity (wood chip
and composted/stabilised organics used for cover, landscaping, etc). Table 35 shows the breakdown of waste
accepted at each of these landfills. A more detailed breakdown of waste accepted at all landfills in operation is
provided in Appendix E.
Table 35: Municipal waste landfills operating in 2008
EPA
Licence
Reg. No.97
Landfill
Waste Management
Planning Region
Street
Commercial
sweepings,
waste
‘Organic’ Total MSW to
Household garden, parks disposed
landfill
waste
waste
& cemetery
(inc. non(recovered)
disposed (t)
waste
process
(t)
disposed
industrial)
(t)
(t)
(t)
63,010
40,369
1,419
20,620
602
W0001-03 North Kerry
Clare Limerick Kerry
W0017-03 Gortadroma
Clare Limerick Kerry
28,387
849
26,658
390
56,284
W0109-01 Inagh
W0178-01 Connaught Region
Clare Limerick Kerry
28,001
708
5,930
6,843
41,482
Connaught
47,223
582
49,503
0
97,308
W0059-02 Ballaghaderreen
Connaught
17,250
151
3,679
769
21,849
W0021-01 Derrinumera
W0067-01 Rathroeen
Connaught
Connaught
11,632
9,858
736
1,289
3,060
5,008
1,557
721
16,985
16,876
W0013-01 Carrowbrowne
Connaught
0
0
0
7,261
7,261
W0068-02 Youghal
Cork
58,256
0
45,702
0
103,958
W0012-02 Kinsale Road
Cork
40,559
6,922
7,843
3,342
58,666
W0089-01 Derryconnell
Cork
8,259
0
760
0
9,019
W0024-02 Ballynacarrick
W0004-03 Arthurstown
Donegal
Dublin
11,826
301,829
1,263
0
16,317
0
0
0
29,406
301,829
W0009-02 Balleally
W0081-03 KTK
W0201-02 Drehid
Dublin
65,066
949
13,962
0
79,977
Kildare
0
0
208,751
34,619
243,370
Kildare
61,069
3
57,177
11,468
129,717
W0047-02 Kerdiffstown98
Kildare
4,335
0
4,335
1,637
10,307
W0029-02 Derryclure
W0028-02 Ballydonagh
Midlands
Midlands
22,579
20,010
0
712
27,673
25,784
0
0
50,252
46,506
W0026-02 Kyletelesha
Midlands
28,674
0
14,590
700
43,964
W0078-02 Ballaghaveny
W0146-01 Knockharley
Midlands
19,505
1,490
4,024
8
25,027
North East
23,127
0
101,525
17,951
142,603
W0077-02 Corranure
North East
67,051
573
16,845
2,000
86,469
W0060-01 Whiteriver
W0020-01 Scotch Corner
North East
North East
17,920
19,954
0
706
58,972
12,236
0
3,032
76,892
35,928
W0025-02 Powerstown
South East
28,739
1,612
5,256
5,769
41,376
W0030-02 Dunmore
South East
11,792
1,537
5,817
0
19,146
W0074-02 Donohill
South East
12,216
1,323
1,151
349
15,039
W0191-01 Holmestown
South East
9,940
437
1,206
2,369
13,952
W0016-02 Killurin
W0165-01 Ballynagran
South East
Wicklow
3,337
105,539
248
451
210
0
0
705
3,795
106,695
W0066-02 Rampere
Wicklow
31,265
1,009
13,584
0
45,858
1,155,567
24,969
758,178
102,092
2,040,806
Total
(Source: landfill survey)
97
98
Bolded licence numbers are private sector landfills.
Data based on intake to facility only (data incomplete)
46
The 1,938,714 t of municipal waste disposed in the MSW landfills consisted of 1,155,567 t of household waste and
783,147 t of non-household waste.
10.2 Municipal landfill disposal capacity
At the end of 2008, the remaining fully consented MSW landfill capacity (i.e. with waste licence and planning
permission in place) was approximately 24 million tonnes nationally. A breakdown of MSW disposal capacity by
landfill and waste planning region is shown in Table 36. It is recognised, however, that the regional boundaries are
somewhat artificial as waste does move out of planning regions for disposal. If disposal to MSW landfill were to
continue at the 2008 rate of approximately 2 million tonnes per annum, this means that there is approximately 12
years landfill capacity remaining, i.e. enough capacity to last to 2020. Significantly, this capacity is not distributed
evenly around the State. Some regions such as Dublin and Donegal are at critical capacity shortage stage. However,
such predictions must be treated with caution as they are affected by numerous factors including:
The character of the waste,
The quantity of waste arising and the proportion consigned for disposal to landfill,
The rate of compaction of waste,
The ability of a landfill to use its void space before other restrictions cause it to cease, e.g. restrictions on
lifespan in authorisations,
Void space taken up by cover material.
The futures estimate does not provide for waste to energy incineration capacity, none of which is currently on stream.
Though not yet commenced, Bottlehill Landfill in Co. Cork is included in terms of future available capacity, but there
are a number of other proposed landfills that are EPA-licensed but, as they do not yet have final planning permission
(or vice versa), they are not counted in terms of future capacity.
In infrastructure delivery terms it can take 8 years or more for a new MSW landfill proposal for a greenfield site to
progress from site selection stage, to being open for business (assuming success at planning and licensing stages).
Shorter provision periods can be expected for major extensions of existing licensed facilities. The number of landfills
is expected to continue to decline. This is due to the closure of existing landfills and the lack of new facilities coming
on-line. It was 2006 when the EPA last processed a licence for a new greenfield MSW landfill and there is currently
only one application on hand.
The Environment Committee of the County and City Managers‟ Association carried out a Waste Infrastructure Survey
in 2009, to offer an assessment of the extent of waste management infrastructure in place nationally. The Waste
Management Infrastructure Survey: Summary Report was published in November 2009 and is a very useful
reference document regarding existing and planned waste infrastructure, including landfill capacity. For further
information see www.lgmsb.ie/OLAM.aspx.
47
Table 36: National MSW landfill disposal capacity
EPA Licence
Reg. No.99
Licensee
Landfill
Approximate
Waste Management
remaining
Planning Region
disposal capacity
(t)100
Approximate remaining
life expectancy)101
Site
W0001-03
Kerry Co. Co.
North Kerry
Clare Limerick Kerry
649,000
10
W0017-03
Limerick Co. Co.
Gortadroma
Clare Limerick Kerry
1,333,000
24
W0109-01
Clare Co. Co.
Inagh
Clare Limerick Kerry
473,000
14
W0021-01
Mayo Co. Co.
Derrinumera
Connaught
80,000
5
W0059-02
Roscommon Co. Co.
Ballaghaderreen
Connaught
78,000
4
W0067-01
Mayo Co. Co.
Rathroeen
Connaught
140,000
9
W0178-01
Greenstar Holdings
Connaught Reg.
Connaught
1,115,000
11
W0012-02
Cork City Co.
Kinsale Road
Cork
100,000
Closes 2009
W0068-02
Cork Co. Co .
Youghal
Cork
100,000
Closes 2009
W0089-01
Cork Co. Co.
Derryconnell
Cork
2,000
Closes 2009
W0161-01
Cork Co. Co.
Bottlehill
Cork
5,392,000
W0024-02
Donegal Co. Co.
Ballynacarrick
Donegal
118,000
4
W0004-03
South Dublin Co. Co.
Arthurstown
Dublin
434,000
1
W0009-02
Fingal Co. Co.
Balleally
Dublin
202,000
2
W0047-02
Neiphin Trading Ltd
Kerdiffstown102
Kildare
250,000
-
W0081-03
KTK Landfill Ltd
KTK
Kildare
180,000
Closes 2009
W0201-02
Bord na Móna plc
Drehid
Kildare
3,416,000
30
W0026-02
Laois Co. Co.
Kyletelesha
Midlands
388,000
9
W0028-02
Westmeath Co. Co.
Ballydonagh
Midlands
100,000
2
W0029-02
Offaly Co. Co.
Derryclure
Midlands
954,000
19
W0078-02
North Tipp Co. Co.
Ballaghaveny
Midlands
189,000
8
W0020-01
Monaghan Co. Co.
Scotch Corner
North East
250,000
8
W0060-01
Louth Co. Co.
Whiteriver
North East
800,000
10
W0077-02
Cavan Co. Co.
Corranure
North East
323,000
4
W0146-01
Greenstar Holdings
Knockharley
North East
3,007,000
24
W0025-02
Carlow Co. Co.
Powerstown
South East
140,000
4
W0030-02
Kilkenny Co. Co.
Dunmore
South East
14,000
Closes 2009
W0074-02
South Tipp Co. Co.
Donohill
South East
42,000
3
W0191-01
Wexford Co. Co.
Holmestown
South East
888,000
Opened 2008
W0066-02
Wicklow Co. Co.
Rampere
Wicklow
143,000
3
W0165-01
Greenstar Holdings
Ballynagran
Wicklow
2,772,000
26
Region
16
9
(32)
Not operational yet
4
1.5
c. 11
10
14
13
19
Total
(Source: AERs from EPA waste-licensed activities)
99
Bolded licence numbers are private sector landfills.
Based on AER returns from landfill operators for 2008
101
Based on 2008 fill rate
102
Data based on intake to facility only (data incomplete)
100
48
24,072,000
National capacity
c. 12 yrs
10.3 Integrated landfill facilities
Thirty-two landfills accepted municipal waste for disposal and recovery in 2008. A further 35 facilities hold landfill
licences but are closed to landfill activities. Ten of the 32 active landfills had no other non-landfill associated waste
infrastructure. Across the 67 licensed landfill facilities, there were 31 associated civic amenity sites (10 of these civic
amenity sites are active at licensed landfills that are no longer accepting waste for disposal). Four landfill licensed
sites report having associated composting facilities. Only 2 landfills report having active landfilling, civic amenity sites
and composting facilities.
10.4 Thermal treatment (including incineration)
Incineration of municipal waste
Commercial incineration as a waste treatment option for municipal waste is not available in Ireland at the time of
writing this report. In November 2005, the EPA granted licences 103 for two commercial incinerators. The licences
provide for the operation of waste incineration facilities by Indaver Ireland at Carranstown, Co. Meath ( W0167-01) and
Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork (W0186-01). In December 2008, the EPA granted a licence for a third municipal waste
incinerator at Ringsend in Dublin (W0232-01). None of these facilities are operating as of end-2008 and only the
Carranstown facility has commenced construction.
Use of waste as a fuel
Table 37 shows that, in 2008, recovery operators reported that 88,574 t of non-hazardous waste was used as a fuel
(other than in direction incineration) or other means to generate energy (primarily wood). Lagan Cement Limited
(P0487-05) accepted refuse derived fuel for combustion during 2008. In previous years all refuse derived fuel had
been exported for combustion.
Table 37: Non-hazardous waste used as a fuel, 2008
Material Type
Total (t)
Of which packaging (t)
Wood
59,382
24,682
Refuse derived fuel
26,234
5,665
2,166
0
792
0
88,574
30,347
Edible oil and fats
Other non-hazardous
wastes
Total
(Source: recovery organisations survey)
103
Further licence details at www.epa.ie
49
10.5 Waste collections
Nationally the commercial sector is predominantly served by a 2-bin system. In the case of household waste there
are varying degrees of penetration for different waste collection systems (Table 38).
Table 38: Distribution and type of collection service providers for household waste
Local authority
Combined
serviced104
Private sector
MSW /
residual
MDR
(2nd bin)
Organic
(3rd bin)
Roscommon
-
-
-


-
Cavan
-
-
-


Limerick County

-


Kilkenny


Kerry



Clare
-
-
Laois
-
Donegal
Local authority area
MSW /
residual
MDR
(2nd bin)
Organic
(3rd bin)
2-bin
3-bin
market
market
penetration penetration
Unserviced
occupied
households
(%)105
100%
-
65%
-
94%
-
53%
-
100%
-
48%

-
98%
-
47%


-
100%
10%
44%
-


-
93%
-
43%
-
-


-
100%
-
43%
-
-
-


58%
-
42%
Mayo
-
-
-



96%
0.5%
40%
Offaly
-
-
-


-
81%
-
41%
Longford
-
-
-


100%
-
38%
Galway County
-
-
-



76%
6%
36%
North Tipperary
-
-
-



97%
2%
29%
Carlow




98%
-
29%
Westmeath



99%
5%
29%
Monaghan
-
-
-



95%
7%
27%
Leitrim




-
26%



100%
Wexford

100%
23%
26%
South Tipperary


-


-
100%
-
23%




-
22%





100%
Waterford County

64%
64%
20%
Meath
-
-
-



90%
0.3%
20%
Sligo
-
-
-


-
100%
-
18%
Wicklow
-
-
-


59%
-
17%
Louth


-



93%
26%
12%
-



100%
17%
11%

-


-
100%
-
9%
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown



-
3%





98%
Waterford City

98%
98%
2%
Dublin City






99%
42%
2%
Galway City






97%
91%
1%
Fingal






99%
90%
0.4%
South Dublin


-



100%
8%
0%
15
15
8
34
34
14
93%
15%
26%
Cork Region (County & City)
Kildare
Limerick City
TOTAL / AVERAGE
(Source: local authority survey, CSO)
Table 38 shows that fifteen local authorities provided household waste kerbside collection services in 2008, although
some are only marginally involved. This is a reduction of two local authorities since 2007, as both Cavan and
Donegal County Councils reported no public managed household kerbside collections for 2008. For market
proportion of collection services see Table 11 in Section 3.2 of this report.
104
105
Based on households serviced by a collection service (rounded)
Based on local authority survey returns and 2006 census data (rounded)
50
Table 39 presents the number of bring banks and civic amenity sites operational in each local authority area in 2008.
The number of bring banks increased from 1,960 in 2007 to 1,989 in 2008 (Table 40), although some local authorities
report having to remove bring banks in their areas due to continuing problems with illegal dumping, public complaints
and antisocial behaviour. The number of civic amenity sites increased by six to 96 in 2008. For information on waste
types and quantities accepted at bring banks and civic amenity sites, refer to Appendices B and C.
Table 39: Bring banks and civic amenity sites, 2004 2008
2004
Number of bring banks
Collected at bring banks (t)
Number of civic amenity sites
Collected at civic amenity sites (t)
2005
2006
2007
1,824
1,921
1,919
1,960
1,989
76,023
84,980
96,727
95,569
102,300
69
79
86
90
96
83,562
104,267
191,399
203,282
200,455
(Source: local authority survey)
Table 40: Bring banks and civic amenity sites in operation, 2008
Local authority
Bring banks
Carlow
Cavan
Clare
Cork City & County
Donegal
Dublin City
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown
Fingal
Galway County
Galway City
Kerry
Kildare
Kilkenny
Laois
Leitrim
Limerick County
Limerick City
Longford
Louth
Mayo
Meath
Monaghan
North Tipperary
Offaly
Roscommon
Sligo
South Dublin
South Tipperary
Waterford
Waterford City
Westmeath
Wexford
Wicklow
Total
2008
Civic amenity sites
46
31
53
199
62
118
50
76
93
13
103
56
72
42
38
48
20
34
48
95
36
29
39
46
40
50
60
74
46
23
48
152
49
1,989
(Source: local authority survey)
51
3
3
5
10
3
2
1
4
4
1
6
2
3
1
2
4
1
2
2
2
3
1
2
3
3
3
2
4
3
1
2
3
5
96
APPENDICES
52
APPENDIX A – INDICATORS
Indicator
2003
2004
2005
2006
106
2007
2008
Municipal waste
Municipal waste managed (t)
Municipal waste managed/person (t)
Municipal waste generated (t)
107
Municipal waste generated/person (t)
Disposal of municipal waste to landfill (t)
Disposal rate municipal waste
Recovery of municipal waste (t)
Recovery rate for municipal waste
Number landfills accepting municipal waste for disposal
Number of bring banks
Number of civic amenity sites
2,559,387
2,703,603
2,779,097
3,100,310
3,174,565
0.65
0.67
0.67
0.73
0.73
2,917,886
3,000,638
3,040,714
3,384,606
3,397,683
0.75
0.74
0.74
0.8
0.78
3,103,820
0.70
108
3,224,281
0.73
109
(1,832,625)
(1,818,536)
(1,833,330)
(1,980,618)
(2,014,797)
72%
67%
66%
64%
64%
63%
(726,763)
(885,068)
(945,767)
(1,119,692)
(1,159,767)
1,165,108
28%
33%
34%
36%
37%
38%
35
34
32
29
29
31
1,692
1,824
1,921
1,919
1,960
1,989
60
69
79
86
90
96
1,416,862
1,500,780
1,543,468
1,773,242
1,625,490
1,556,879
0.36
0.37
0.37
0.42
0.37
0.35
1,704,844
1,728,154
1,746,408
1,978,716
1,761,167
1,677,338
0.44
0.43
0.42
0.47
0.41
0.38
1,231,109
1,214,908
1,198,504
1,379,246
1,200,980
1,155,567
87%
81%
78%
78%
74%
74%
185,753
285,872
344,964
393,995
424,510
401,312
13%
19%
22%
22%
26%
26%
1,140,576
1,202,824
1,235,629
1,327,068
1,549,075
1,477,397
0.29
0.3
0.3
0.31
0.36
0.33
601,515
603,628
634,826
601,372
813,818
758,178
1,938,712
Household waste
Household waste managed (t)
Household waste managed/person (t)
Household waste generated (t)
107
Household waste generated/person (t)
Disposal of household waste (t)
Disposal rate for household waste
Recovery of household waste (t)
Recovery rate for household waste
Commercial waste
Commercial waste managed (t)
Commercial waste managed/person (t)
Disposal of commercial waste (t)
Disposal rate for commercial waste
Recovery of commercial waste (t)
Recovery rate for commercial waste
53%
50%
51%
45%
53%
51%
541,010
599,196
600,803
725,697
735,257
719,219
47%
50%
49%
55%
47%
49%
1,006,287
850,911
925,221
1,028,472
1,055,952
1,026,759
0.26
0.21
0.22
0.24
0.24
0.23
419,600
479,540
545,368
589,519
671,630
664,043
0.107
0.119
0.132
0.14
0.15
0.15
42%
56%
59%
57%
64%
65%
Packaging waste
Best estimate of total quantity generated (t)
Packaging waste generated/person (t)
Best estimate of packaging waste recovered (t)
Packaging waste recovered/person (t)
National packaging recovery rate
106
Per person calculations are based on CSO population estimate data of 4,422,100 people in 2008.
Includes uncollected household waste.
108
Includes cleansing wastes, as well as household, commercial and non-process industrial, and uncollected household waste
109
Household, commercial and undifferentiated street sweepings to landfill (24,969t)
53
107
APPENDIX B – HOUSEHOLD WASTE
Local authority
Dublin City
Mixed residual
collection
(black bins)
(t)
Separate
kerbside
collection of
mixed dry
recyclables
(green bins)
(t)
Separate
kerbside
collection of
food and
garden waste
(brown bins)
(t)
Household
waste brought
to bring banks
(t)
Household
waste brought
to civic amenity
sites
(t)
Household
waste delivered
directly to
landfill face by
householders
(t)
Estimate of
home
composting
(t)
"Uncollected"
household
waste
(t)
Total household
waste
(t)
129,787
29,649
8,553
16,755
5,273
Unknown
4,129
0
194,146
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown
33,477
16,811
0
4,553
13,153
0
2,711
1,624
72,329
Fingal
57,108
16,660
10,548
4,434
14,780
0
989
360
104,879
South Dublin
62,782
19,567
1,312
5,565
16,334
0
1,128
0
106,688
283,154
82,687
20,413
31,307
49,540
0
8,957
1,984
478,042
79,297
34,502
0
14,584
26,334
0
1,650
6,704
163,071
79,297
34,502
0
14,584
26,334
0
1,650
6,704
163,071
Galway County
28,242
14,665
932
3,963
1,734
0
1,856
14,412
65,804
Galway City
11,953
5,380
6,176
2,473
807
0
60
131
26,980
Leitrim
3,958
1,135
0
867
475
160
560
1,204
8,359
Mayo
27,471
10,004
32
2,960
8,224
3,805
1,421
7,494
61,411
9,266
3,358
0
986
4,675
2,595
195
9,062
30,137
11,487
2,051
0
1,363
1,499
350
889
248
17,887
92,377
36,593
7,140
12,612
17,414
6,910
4,981
32,551
210,578
Clare
15,228
5,900
0
1,442
8,665
0
1,071
2,836
35,142
Kerry
20,382
5,321
340
3,316
16,424
2,313
500
4,417
53,013
Limerick County
19,073
5,846
0
2,004
4,368
2,848
1,017
6,202
41,358
Limerick City
17,021
4,576
0
1,062
854
0
337
2,059
25,909
71,704
21,643
340
7,824
30,311
5,161
2,925
15,514
155,422
Dublin Region sub-total
Cork City & County
Cork Region sub-total
Roscommon
Sligo
Connaught Region sub-total
Mid-west Region sub-total
54
Mixed residual
collection
(black bins)
(t)
Local authority
Separate
kerbside
collection of
mixed dry
recyclables
(green bins)
(t)
Separate
kerbside
collection of
food and
garden waste
(brown bins)
(t)
Household
waste brought
to bring banks
(t)
Household
waste brought
to CA sites
(t)
Household
waste delivered
directly to
landfill face by
householders
(t)
Estimate of
home
composting
(t)
"Uncollected"
household
waste
(t)
Total household
waste
(t)
Cavan
13,876
2,799
0
2,032
3,922
0
322
11,140
34,091
Louth
29,145
5,741
2,898
2,218
13,869
2154
171
2,918
59,114
Meath
37,616
9,185
23
2,510
3,946
0
1,286
878
55,444
9,917
2,543
225
1,044
1,544
0
350
2,019
17,642
90,554
20,268
3,146
7,804
23,281
2154
2,129
16,955
166,291
Carlow
13,087
1,816
0
2,080
2,270
4491
392
0
24,136
Kilkenny
10,595
2,849
0
2,200
2,303
3527
1,112
4,299
26,885
South Tipperary
15,931
5,425
0
2,181
8,023
850
820
1,289
34,519
Waterford County
10,575
3,752
2,407
1,430
1,846
0
360
431
20,801
8,232
2,725
3,864
1,654
789
0
360
0
17,624
Monaghan
North East Region sub-total
Waterford City
24,642
8,336
443
3,719
4,862
0
2,040
4,857
48,899
83,062
24,903
6,714
13,264
20,093
8868
5,084
10,876
172,864
Laois
11,242
4,555
0
912
2,485
0
460
6,602
26,256
Offaly
12,634
3,724
0
1,155
4,994
3373
381
876
27,137
7,012
2,300
0
779
1,305
0
422
4,408
16,226
North Tipperary
13,523
4,216
22
1,244
3,944
2052
275
266
25,542
Westmeath
15,892
4,286
86
1,414
2,645
2905
155
412
27,795
60,303
19,081
108
5,504
15,373
8330
1,693
12,564
122,956
Donegal
21,707
3,762
0
3,043
2,593
155
1,700
15,224
48,184
Kildare
50,446
12,881
59
3,699
9,983
5860
1,694
1,266
85,888
Wicklow
29,409
4,899
0
2,659
5,394
204
5,900
6,821
55,286
Wexford County
South East Region sub-total
Longford
Midlands Region sub-total
18,617110
139111
Total
110
111
862,013
261,219
37,920
102,300
200,455
Household WEEE collected at retail premises by compliance schemes.
139t of lighting equipment (WEEE) collected from civic amenity sites in all local authority areas by WEEE Ireland compliance scheme.
55
37,642
36,713
120,459
1,677,338
Total (t)
Other112(t)
Small
batteries (t)
Textiles (t)
Composite
packaging (t)
Plastic (t)
Steel cans (t)
Aluminium
cans (t)
Glass (t)
Local
authority
Paper &
cardboard (t)
APPENDIX C – WASTE TYPES COLLECTED AT BRING BANKS
Carlow
1304
738
38
0
0
0
0
0
0
2,080
Cavan
102
1,028
56
4
776
5
61
0.07
0
2,032
0
1,073
232
0
105
0
32
0
0
1,442
1,274
11,174
231
213
197
0
1,495
0
0
14,584
358
2,148
25
144
110
0
257
1.4
0
3,043
1,207
9,133
42
1
567
0
699
8.86
5,097
16,755
256
3,734
27
5
151
4
373
3.0
0
4,553
Fingal
0
4,202
22
0
0
0
209
1.04
0
4,434
Galway County
0
3,524
88
0
0
0
351
0
0
3,963
Galway City
0
2,473
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2,473
Kerry
0
2,820
87
178
230
0
0
0.9
0
3,316
Kildare
0
3,628
18
53
0
0
0
0
0
3,699
292
1,649
57
43
38
0
113
0.23
8
2,200
Laois
0
826
44
0
0
0
42
0
0
912
Leitrim
0
749
30
0
0
0
88
0
0
867
199
1,452
36
80
59
0
178
0.44
0
2,004
Limerick City
0
776
27
17
79
0
155
7.49
0
1,062
Longford
0
587
53
0
0
0
133
0.14
6
779
Louth
0
1,824
71
0
323
0
0
0
0
2,218
Mayo
0
2,727
78
0
0
0
155
0
0
2,960
Meath
0
2,077
32
0
0
0
400
0
0
2,509
Monaghan
0
978
28
0
0
0
38
0
0
1,044
North Tipperary
0
1,197
0
0
20
0
0
1,244
Offaly
0
1,108
47
00
0
0
0
0
0
1,155
Roscommon
0
920
46
0
0
0
20
0
0
986
Sligo
0
1,327
36
0
0
0
0
0
0
1,363
South Dublin
0
5,034
13
0
56
0
460
2.0
0
5,565
80
2,062
39
0
0
0
0
0
0
2,181
Waterford County
0
1,388
0
0
0
0
42
0
0
1,430
Waterford City
0
1,420
84
0
0
0
150
0
0
1,654
Westmeath
0
1,207
40
0
0
0
167
0
0
1,414
Wexford
292
3,186
127
0
71
0
43
0
0
3,719
Wicklow
104
2,284
79
4
31
0
157
0.24
0
2,659
5,468
80,453
1,847
755
2793
9
5,838
25.81
5,111
102,300
Clare
Cork City & County
Donegal
Dublin City
Dun LaoghaireRathdown
Kilkenny
Limerick County
South Tipperary
Total
27
112
175.15 t flat glass, 36.36 t lead acid batteries, 518 t household hazardous waste and 4,367.34 t green waste from community
bring centres in Dublin City Co.; 5.51 t non-recyclable black bin waste collected at Longford Co. Co. bring banks; 8 t household
hazardous waste Kilkenny Co. Co. chemcar collections.
56
Total (t)
Other (t) 114
Household hazardous
waste (t)
bulky waste (t)
WEEE (t)113
waste paint and
varnish (including
containers) (t)
waste cooking or
vegetable oils (t)
Oil filters (vehicles) (t)
Waste mineral oils (t)
Lead acid batteries (t)
Small batteries (t)
Wood (t)
Textiles (t)
Tetrapak (t)
Plastic (incl.
polystyrene) (t)
Metals (t)
Glass (t)
Paper & cardboard &
magazines (t)
mixed dry recyclables
(t)
organic waste
(food and garden) (t)
Local authority
mixed residual waste
(t)
APPENDIX D – WASTE TYPES COLLECTED AT CIVIC AMENITY SITES
Carlow
919
286
0
0
0115
272
26
0
128
282
2
28
12
1
2
0
312
0
0 0
Cavan
984
573
0
851
247
270
204
14
104
266
1
26
3
0
0
0
354
0
0
25
3,922
Clare
3,621
423
0
1,162
1,073
380
105
0
198
765
5
37
1
1
0
0
894
0
0
0
8,665
Cork City & County
9,933
2,459
555
2,709
1,648
1,635
481
0
331
2,278
27
99
56
3
17
81
2,491
0
0
1,531
26,334
678
0
0
622
222
62
192
0
20
23
2
8
12
0
1
0
356
395
0
0
2,593
Donegal
2,270
0
0
145
125
267
230
73
0
0
385
2
16
0
0
0
0
986
2,024
198
822
5,273
Dun LaoghaireRathdown
2,810
4,703
0
681
389
476
159
12
198
1,156
8
27
15
0
5
94
839
904
1
676
13,153
Fingal
Dublin City
3,967
1,482
0
795
968
524
279
27
274
1,290
7
52
27
0
3
163
1,783
2,018
0
1,121
14,780
Galway County
0
52
167
356
248
356
38
0
35
0
6
28
3
0
0
40
399
0
6
0
1,734
Galway City
0
0
0
0
28
0
0
0
0
0
2
11
0
0
0
0
766
0
0
0
807
13,221
600
185
877
275
323
77
0
34
13
4
73
12
1
2
1
726
0
0
0
16,424
Kildare
6,511
428
0
555
178
461
38
0
72
66
3
0
0
0
0
30
584
1,008
3
46
9,983
Kilkenny
1,066
0
0
410
105
171
78
13
63
28
10
0
5
0
0
0
325
0
15
14
2,303
Laois
0
0
0
638
235
294
180
0
106
608
2
0
18
1
0
25
357
0
0
21
2,485
Leitrim
0
0
0
81
0
29
14
0
14
20
2
8
6
0
0
11
118
172
0
0
475
10
510
10
784
255
519
231
10
121
287
4
35
8
1
3
59
747
0
0
774
4,368
0
0
0
216
139
3
0
0
0
0
1
7
2
0
2
23
461
0
0
0
854
Longford
518
0
0
42
19
76
44
0
0
47
0
7
0
0
0
0
221
0
0
331
1,305
Louth
674
2273
0
4,028
789
737
1,038
0
156
1,786
39
0
12
0
0
0
984
0
0
1,353
13,869
Kerry
Limerick County
Limerick City
113
WEEE data from compliance schemes (WEEE Ireland and ERP).
Other= Mineral oil containers, aerosols, DIY waste, gas cylinders, tyres, plasterboard, bric-a-brac, CDs, DVDs & books, miscellaneous recyclables.
115
Glass tonnage included in bring bank total (see Appendix C).
114
57
Other (t) 114
Household hazardous
waste (t)
bulky waste (t)
WEEE (t)113
waste paint and
varnish (including
containers) (t)
waste cooking or
vegetable oils (t)
Oil filters (vehicles) (t)
Waste mineral oils (t)
Lead acid batteries (t)
Small batteries (t)
28
1,145
389
550
120
0
155
1,165
9
42
13
1
2
25
719
0
1
55
8,224
13
990
0
701
327
363
106
0
101
359
3
28
0
0
2
0
953
0
0
0
3,946
314
167
0
518
79
56
48
0
42
37
0
9
3
0
1
0
197
0
0
73
1,544
North Tipperary
2,052
8
0
769
274
106
208
20
78
0
10
2
0
0
377
16
0
9
3,944
Offaly
3,373
121
0
404
81
169
91
10
30
339
0
2
1
0
1
6
356
0
0
10
4,994
Roscommon
2,595
0
0
1,014
260
140
7
0
75
146
34
0
0
0
5
20
379
0
0
0
4,675
0
9
0
482
105
92
79
13
36
91
1
4
2
0
0
0
333
29
0
223
1,499
South Dublin
3,723
1,455
0
459
136
516
34
0
38
330
27
0
48
0
0
45
1,216
7,464
0
843
16,334
South Tipperary
6,420
41
5
115
94
274
2
0
50
369
4
0
3
0
0
0
482
19
0
145
8,023
Waterford County
542
53
266
0
11
72
0
0
6
174
0
1
1
1
0
4
406
206
0
103
1,846
Waterford City
210
0
0
38
53
48
0
0
2
5
0
1
1
0
0
5
381
45
0
0
789
0
469
0
643
240
240
88
0
53
328
2
17
10
0
1
4
547
3
0
0
2,645
116
0
667
39
14
63
0
7
42
9
0
0
0
439
0
0
10
4,862
970
269
338
0
302
0
9
44
9
0
7
26
893
0
0
1
5,394
Meath
Monaghan
Sligo
Westmeath
Glass (t)
Wexford
3,282
0
0
290
Wicklow
127
38
0
2,361
15
117
139
139
Total
116
117
71,368
17,140
1,361
23,871
10,104
10,380
4,417
133 2,885
12,643
Glass tonnage included in bring bank total (see Appendix C).
139 t of lighting equipment collected at civic amenity sites nationwide by WEEE Ireland compliance scheme.
58
231
659
302
12
54
662
21,520
Total (t)
Wood (t)
0
Mayo
Metals (t)
Textiles (t)
Tetrapak (t)
Plastic (incl.
polystyrene) (t)
Paper & cardboard &
magazines (t)
mixed dry recyclables
(t)
organic waste
(food and garden) (t)
mixed residual waste
(t)
3,805
Local authority
14,303
224
8,186 200,455
APPENDIX E – LANDFILLS IN OPERATION
Local authority / operator
Facility name
DISPOSAL
Waste
Total in
licence reg
2007 (t)
no.
Total in
2008 (t)
Household Commercial Industrial
waste
waste
waste
(t)
(t)
(t)
RECOVERY
C&D
waste
(t)
Other
wastes
(t)
C&D
waste
(t)
‘Organic’
waste
(t)
Other
wastes
(t)
1
Carlow Co. Co.
Powerstown Landfill
W0025-02
67,723
46,202
28,739
5,256
0
12
2,019
4,407
5,769
0
2
Cavan Co. Co.
Corranure Landfill
W0077-02
109,386
144,202
67,051
16,845
2,893
28
573
54,812
2,000
0
3
Clare Co. Co.
Inagh (Ballyduff Beg)
Landfill
W0109-01
62,547
46,626
28,001
5,930
0
0
1,124
0
6,843
4,728
4
Cork City Co.
Kinsale Road Landfill
W0012-02
49,657
66,673
40,559
7,843
0
0
6,922
8,007
3,342
0
5
Cork Co. Co.
Youghal Landfill
W0068-02
199,500
148,828
58,256
45,702
495
0
0
44,375
0
0
6
Cork Co. Co.
Derryconnell Landfill
W0089-01
9,806
9,019
8,259
760
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
Donegal Co. Co.
Ballynacarrick Landfill
W0024-02
35,143
30,332
11,826
16,317
0
52
2,137
0
0
0
8
Dundalk Town Co.
Dundalk Landfill/IWMF
W0034-02
1,471
1,551
0
0
0
0
0
0
1,551
0
9
Fingal Co. Co.
Balleally Landfill
W0009-02
901,685
589,528
65,066
13,962
6,898
0
20,973
482,629
0
0
10
Fingal Co. Co.
Dunsink Landfill
W0127-01
33,060
1,820
0
0
0
0
0
1,820
0
0
11
Galway City Co.
Carrowbrowne Landfill
W0013-01
8,466
7,261
0
0
0
0
0
0
7,261
0
12
Kerry Co. Co.
North Kerry Landfill
W0001-03
56,794
63,009
40,369
20,620
0
0
1,419
0
602
0
13
Kilkenny Co. Co.
Dunmore Landfill
W0030-02
68,729
45,686
11,792
5,817
0
0
1,537
26,540
0
0
14
Laois Co. Co.
Kyletelesha Landfill
W0026-02
42,182
63,552
28,674
14,590
0
0
0
19,588
700
0
15
Limerick City Co.
Longpavement IWMF
W0076-01
36,117
96,712
0
0
0
0
0
96,712
0
0
16
Limerick Co. Co.
Gortadroma
W0017-03
49,993
67,213
28,387
26,658
95
0
939
5,645
390
5,099
17
Louth Co. Co.
Whiteriver
W0060-01
115,681
133,940
17,920
58,972
0
38
6,968
50,042
0
0
18
Mayo Co. Co.
Derrinumera Landfill
W0021-01
20,633
16,985
11,632
3,060
0
0
736
0
1,557
0
19
Mayo Co. Co.
Rathroeen Landfill
W0067-01
18,992
16,876
9,858
5,008
0
0
1,289
0
721
0
20
Monaghan Co. Co.
Scotch Corner Landfill
W0020-01
47,862
40,376
19,954
12,236
17
41
706
4,390
3,032
0
21
North Tipperary Co. Co.
Ballaghaveny Landfill
W0078-02
31,034
25,112
19,505
4,024
0
18
1,557
0
8
0
22
Offaly Co. Co.
Derryclure Landfill
W0029-02
66,247
89,784
22,579
27,673
0
0
0
39,532
0
0
59
Local authority / operator
Facility name
Waste
Total in
licence reg
2007 (t)
no.
DISPOSAL
Total in
2008 (t)
Household Commercial Industrial
waste
waste
waste
(t)
(t)
(t)
RECOVERY
C&D
waste
(t)
Other
wastes
(t)
C&D
waste
(t)
‘Organic’
waste
(t)
Other
wastes
(t)
23
Roscommon Co. Co.
Ballaghaderreen Landfill W0059-02
37,176
32,988
17,250
3,679
0
123
289
10,878
769
0
24
South Dublin Co. Co.
Arthurstown Landfill
W0004-03
480,529
359,297
301,829
0
0
0
0
57,468
0
0
25
South Tipperary Co. Co.
Donohill Landfill
W0074-02
16,882
15,649
12,216
1,151
606
0
1,327
0
349
0
W0032-02
49,023
63,154
0
0
0
0
0
63,154
0
0
W0075-02
178,949
24,309
0
0
0
0
0
24,309
0
0
Dungarvan Waste
Disposal Site
Tramore Waste
Disposal Site
26
Waterford Co. Co.
27
Waterford Co. Co.
28
Westmeath Co. Co.
Ballydonagh Landfill
W0028-02
74,978
54,271
20,010
25,784
0
0
712
7,765
0
0
29
Wexford Co. Co.
Killurin Landfill
W0016-02
10,632
3,795
3,337
210
0
0
248
0
0
0
30
Wexford Co. Co.
Holmestown Landfill
W0191-01
0
13,952
9,940
1,206
0
0
437
0
2,369
0
31
Wicklow Co. Co.
Rampere Landfill
W0066-02
49,109
51,722
31,265
13,584
0
0
1,009
5,864
0
0
W0049-02
32,914
33,968
0
0
33,968
0
0
0
0
0
W0201-01
0
154,708
61,069
57,177
71
0
3
24,920
11,468
0
Clonbulloge Ash
Repository
Drehid Waste
Management Facility
32
Bord Na Mona
33
Bord Na Mona
34
Greenstar Holdings Ltd.
Knockharley Landfill
W0146-01
186,621
180,965
23,127
101,525
9,107
0
0
29,255
17,951
0
35
Greenstar Holdings Ltd.
Connaught Regional
Residual Landfill
W0178-01
131,073
112,225
47,223
49,503
1
0
1,581
13,917
0
0
36
Greenstar Holdings Ltd.
Ballynagran Landfill
W0165-01
200,859
144,386
105,539
0
1,952
0
2,777
33,413
705
0
37
KTK Landfill Ltd.
KTK Landfill Ltd.
W0081-03
434,778
349,514
0
208,751
10,005
7,464
1,528
87,147
34,619
0
38
KTK Sand & Gravel Ltd
KTK Sand & Gravel Ltd W0156-01
312,617
181,921
0
0
0
0
0
181,921
0
0
Hollywood Landfill
W0129-01
433,468
225,996
0
0
1,532
220,213
4,251
0
0
0
Sarsfieldtown Landfill
Gormanston
W0151-01
469,795
350,476
0
0
0
0
0
350,476
0
0
Kerdiffstown
W0047-01
267,107
222,670
4,335
4,335
0
0
0
212,363
1,637
374,636
1,155,567
758,178
67,640
227,989
63,061
1,941,349
102,092
9,827
Total
disposal
2,272,435
Total
recovery
2,053,268
39
40
41
Murphy Concrete Manufacturing
Ltd.
Murphy Concrete Manufacturing
Ltd.
Neiphin Trading Ltd.
Total
5,760,131 4,325,702
60
APPENDIX F – BIODEGRADABLE WASTE CALCULATIONS
Table F-1: Collected household waste composition profile (% by weight)
Waste Streams
% Total collected (1,161,152 t)
Mixed residual waste (black
bin)118
Mixed dry recyclables
(green bin)
Mixed organics
(brown bin)
Total
Biodegradability factor
74.2%
22.5%
3.3%
100.0%
-
119
BMW Content
72.9%
93.6%
59.4%
-
Weight %
61.6%
Weight %
Weight %
Weight %
-
Organic waste
24.0%
1.3%
28.5%
16.6%
1
Garden waste
6.5%
0.1%
50.8%
6.1%
1
Papers
12.5%
54.0%
9.8%
19.0%
1
Cardboards
3.6%
15.3%
0.5%
6.0%
1
Composites
1.0%
2.2%
0.1%
1.0%
0
Textiles
7.3%
1.1%
0.5%
5.6%
0.5
Nappies
8.4%
0.4%
0.8%
5.4%
0.5
Plastics
13.6%
15.5%
1.8%
12.4%
0
Glass
3.3%
2.3%
0.2%
8.5%
0
Metals
3.1%
4.0%
0.1%
3.7%
0
Wood
1.2%
0.3%
0.1%
1.9%
0.5
Hazardous waste
0.9%
0.5%
0.0%
0.9%
0
WEEE
0.3%
0.2%
0.0%
1.8%
0
Unclassified combustibles
1.4%
0.2%
0.7%
1.7%
0.5
Unclassified incombustibles
1.2%
0.2%
0.1%
1.6%
0
Fines smaller than 20mm
11.7%
2.4%
6.0%
7.8%
0.5
100%
100%
100%
100%
-
Total
(Source: EPA Municipal Waste Characterisation Report 2008 at www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/waste/plans/name,11659,en.html )
118
119
This represents a average or composite of the residual bin from either a 1-, 2- or 3-bin collection service.
The residual bin from a 3 bin collection service has a BMW content of 47% (c.f. EPA Waste Characterisation Report 2008)
61
Table F-2: Elements of household waste arisings for 2008
Household waste arisings
Totals (t)
Mixed residual collection (black bins)
862,013
Separate kerbside collection of mixed dry recyclables (green bins)
261,219
Separate kerbside collection of food and garden waste (brown bins)
37,920
Household waste brought to bring banks
102,300
Household waste brought to civic amenity sites
200,455
Household waste delivered directly to landfill face by householders
37,642
Estimate of home composting
36,713
Estimate of uncollected household waste
120,459
Household WEEE collected at retail premises by compliance schemes
18,617
Total household waste (t)
1,677,338
Table F-2 details the various sources of household waste for 2008, including an estimate for uncollected
waste (from unserviced or non-participating households – with allowance made for material brought to CA
sites and direct to landfill) (see detail in Appendix B).
As recorded in Table 12 approximately 5% of the serviced household collection market operates on a single
bin basis; 74% of the market operates a two-bin collection service and 21% of the market operates on a 3-bin
basis. The EPA funded Municipal Waste Characterisation studies for 2008 yields biodegradability factors for
the dry recyclables bin (green bin or 2nd bin) and the organics bin (brown bin or 3rd bin). In addition the
characterisation results yields biodegradability factors for the residuals bin (black bin or 1-bin system)
depending on whether the black bin is associated with a 1-, 2- or 3-bin service (refer Table F-1). From this
data Table F-3 can be constructed.
Table F-3: BMW content in residuals (black bin) bin for differentiated household collection services
Proportion of 862,013 t
residual waste/black bin
collected
Quantity (t)
Biodegradability
factor
BMW content in national collected
household residual (black) bin
service (t)
1-bin
5% of market
43,100
64.5%
27,800
2-bin
74% of market
637,890
62%
395,492
3-bin 21% of market
181,023
47%
85,081
862,013
-
508,373
Total:
Table F-4 presents the estimated available biodegradable waste and landfilled biodegradable waste in the
household waste streams brought to civic amenity sites and bring-banks. The biodegradability factors are
based on EPA waste characterisation studies in the case of mixed dry recyclables and mixed residual waste
(see Table F-1 above). For wood in landfill the factor reflects the advice from the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change; and for textiles the factors reflects the observations of the International Review of Waste
Management Policy in Ireland. A conservative 10% factor is applied to the „Other‟ category (experiential) to
capture the biodegradable elements of some bulky wastes such as mattresses, etc.
62
Table F-4: BMW content in waste brought to civic amenity and bring bank facilities
Waste stream
Brought to
Brought to
civic amenity
bring banks
sites
(t)
(t)
Total brought
(t)
Biodegradability
factor
%120
Available
BMW
(t)
Disposed to
Gross BMW to
landfill
landfill (t)
(t)
Paper & card
23,871
5,468
29,339
100
29,339
No
0
Glass
10,104
80,629
90,733
0
0
N/A
0
Metals (incl.
batteries)
11,270
2,664
13,934
0
0
N/A
0
Plastic
4,417
2,793
7,210
0
0
N/A
0
Mixed dry
recyclables
1,494
9
1,503
72.9
1,096
No
0
Textiles
2,885
5,838
8,723
50
4,362
No
0
12,643
0
12,643
50
6,322
No
0
71,368
6
71,374
64.5
46,036
Yes
46,032
17,140
4,367
21,507
100
21,507
No
0
224
526
750
0
0
N/A
0
21,520
0
21,520
0
0
N/A
0
23,519
0
23,519
10
2,352
Yes
2,352
200,455
102,300
302,755
Wood
Mixed residual
waste
Organic & green
Waste
Household
hazardous waste
WEEE
121
Other
Total
120
121
111,014
Biodegradability factors informed by behaviour in landfill and EPA Waste Characterisation Report 2008
Composites, oil, paints, bulky wastes, mattresses, household hazardous wastes, DIY waste, tyres, bric-a-brac, etc
63
48,384
Table F-5: Commercial (and non-process industrial) waste composition profile (% by weight)
Waste Streams
BMW content
Organic waste
Mixed Residual
Waste
(black bin)
Mixed dry
recyclables
(green bin)
Total
Biodegradability factor
75.2%
85.1%
80.0%
-
Weight %
Weight %
Weight %
-
42.2%
11.8%
27.4%
1
Garden waste
0.2%
0.0%
0.1%
1
Papers
25.5%
24.2%
24.8%
1
Cardboards
4.0%
48.6%
25.8%
1
Composites
3.4%
0.7%
2.1%
0
Textiles
4.9%
0.6%
2.8%
0.5
Nappies
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.5
Plastics
10.8%
5.3%
8.1%
0
Glass
1.7%
6.8%
4.2%
0
Metals
2.1%
0.9%
1.5%
0
Wood
0.4%
0.0%
0.2%
0.5
Hazardous waste
3.0%
0.9%
1.9%
0
WEEE
0.2%
0.0%
0.1%
0
Unclassified combustibles
0.4%
0.1%
0.3%
0.5
Unclassified incombustibles
0.2%
0.0%
0.1%
0
Fines smaller than 20mm
1.0%
0.1%
0.6%
0.5
100%
100%
100%
-
Total
(Source: EPA Municipal Waste Characterisation Report 2008, available at
www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/waste/plans/name,11659,en.html)
64