Johnstown - Ireland is well advanced in achieving most of the EU waste recovery and recycling targets, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Waste Report 2008. However, the report urges continued effort to divert biodegradable waste from landfill, and to prevent waste arisings from all sectors of society.

In 2008, municipal waste generation in Ireland fell by 5 percent, in line with GDP. The amount of biodegradable waste collected at kerbside from households doubled, and was primarily collected by local authorities. Significant efforts throughout 2008 increased the source separated household waste collection in Ireland and the report found that:
* 95 percent of households with a waste collection service have a minimum of a two-bin service (residual “black bin” and dry recyclables “green bin”);
* 21 percent of households with a collection service have a three-bin service (residual “black bin”, dry recyclables “green bin” and organics “brown bin”).

Commenting on the report’s findings, Dr. Gerry Byrne, EPA Programme Manager, said: “While the reductions in waste generation seen in 2008 are welcome, we must continue to focus on resource efficiency to ensure that when economic growth does return, it is not accompanied by a surge in waste generation.”

The EPA report states that for 2008:
* The generation of municipal waste decreased by 5 percent, reflecting a reported drop in GDP for the same period and despite a rise in population.
* The quantity of biodegradable waste sent to landfill decreased by 19 percent. Despite this significant drop, Ireland is still 280,000 tonnes above the first EU Landfill Directive limit effective from July 2010. Limits for 2013 and 2016 will be even more stringent – the 2016 limit will require the diversion of 800,000 tonnes of biodegradable waste from landfill.
* The recovery of municipal waste increased by 1 percent to an overall recovery rate of 37.5 percent. The disposal of municipal waste to landfill decreased by in excess of 76,000 tonnes, a landfill rate of 62.5 percent.
* There was a 24 percent decrease in the reported quantity of construction and demolition waste managed, as compared to 2007.
* The private sector collected 57 percent of waste reported as collected from households, with the remainder collected by local authorities.

Dr. Gerry Byrne said: “Although significant progress has been made in managing municipal waste in Ireland, the report clearly shows that Ireland is still in danger of missing a key EU target for diverting biodegradable municipal waste from landfill. In particular, we point out that there is a need to divert large quantities of food waste from landfill. Urgent and sustained actions are required if we are to meet the EU target, including the further roll-out of source separate collections, and recovery of organic waste.”

Finally, the report recommends that relevant new waste policy on foot of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government-funded International Review of Waste Management Policy in Ireland should be delivered as quickly as possible. This should assist in providing certainty within the waste industry in Ireland and allow for accelerated investment programmes that are necessary if organic waste is to be treated and landfill avoided.

The National Waste Report Ireland 2008 is available on the EPA websiteEPA website.

Quelle: Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland

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