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EPA announces draft National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027 is now open for public consultation.

Date released: July 16, 2021

  •  The draft National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021 to 2027 and associated Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment are now open for public consultation.

16 July 2021: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published the draft National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2001-2007 and associated Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment. These documents are open for public consultation until 17 September 2021.

The objectives of the draft National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021 - 2027 are to:

  • Support and drive prevention of hazardous waste.
  • Improve the collection infrastructure for hazardous waste.
  • Endorse the proximity principle so that hazardous wastes are treated as close to the point of production as possible – including within Ireland.
  • Support effective regulation of the movement and disposal of hazardous wastes in line with national policy priorities.
  • Promote safe reuse and recycling pathways in support of the circular economy.

Laura Burke, Director General of the EPA said:

“The purpose of the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan is to protect the environment and human health, through promoting awareness, driving prevention and advocating for best-practice management of hazardous wastes. National waste statistics published by the EPA have highlighted the steady increase in hazardous waste generated in Ireland with the majority exported for treatment. This draft plan sets a range of recommended and co-ordinated actions across a range of stakeholders to raise awareness, prevent hazardous waste and improve the collection network for hazardous waste. I encourage interested stakeholders to contribute to the public consultation.”

While good progress has been made based on the actions from the previous National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2014 – 2020, there are still many challenges such as increasing trend in hazardous waste generated, inadequate collection systems for certain hazardous wastes and the over-reliance on export.

Mary Frances Rochford, Programme Manager, EPA Office of Environmental Sustainability said:

“Moving to a less wasteful and circular economy where the focus is waste prevention, reuse and recycling is an important element of the plan. However, materials with hazardous properties are widely used throughout our economy and society; from highly regulated industrial settings through to our households. These hazardous materials can pose significant risks to human health and the environment if they are not properly used and managed.

“Actions within the plan are wide ranging and include support the move to a less wasteful and circular economy including those that support awareness about the risks associated with using and storing hazardous substances and improved national collection systems for priority hazardous wastes, such as farm hazardous waste and unused and out-of-date medicines.”

The draft National Hazardous Waste Management Plan, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment are available to view and download at https://www.epa.ie/publications/corporate/consultations/.

Submissions and observations are now invited from the public and interested stakeholders. The consultation period closes at 5pm on Friday 17 September 2021. For information on how to make a public consultation please see https://www.epa.ie/publications/corporate/consultations/.

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

Notes to Editor

  • Hazardous waste is produced from a wide variety of sources and covers many waste types. Industry is the largest generator of hazardous waste in Ireland, producing solvents, sludges, oils and chemicals, but other sectors such as businesses, construction, healthcare, waste incinerators, farms and households also produce a range of hazardous wastes, including paints, oils, batteries, pesticides and asbestos and contaminated soil.
  • This will be the fourth National Hazardous Waste Management Plan and is made under Section 26 of the Waste Management Act 1996. It sets out the priorities to be pursued over the next six years and beyond to prevent and manage hazardous waste in Ireland.
  • Strategic Environmental Assessment is a process for evaluating, at the earliest appropriate stage, the environmental consequences of implementing plan/ programme initiatives. The Strategic Environmental Assessment process gives interested parties an opportunity to comment on the environmental impacts of the proposed plan or programme and to be kept informed during the decision-making process.
  • Appropriate Assessment is a process which assesses the potential adverse effects of a plan or project (in combination with other plans or projects) on Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas which are European sites of conservation interest protected by national and European Law.