Your application must include sufficient detail to present a robust case to the EPA that allows it to fully understand the material, intended applications, risks and mitigations to give it sufficient confidence to make a decision. The EPA has developed an End-of-Waste Application Form that must be used when submitting an end-of-waste application. The Draft End-of-Waste - Guidance Document Part 2 will assist you to address the requirements of the end-of-waste teat in your application form.
Please email your completed application forms and supporting documents to article28@epa.ie.
The information in your end-of-waste application may come within the scope of the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007 (AIE Regulations) and/or the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI Act), as amended. As such, any data that you submit may be requested and subsequently have to be made available. Guidance on how you can manage any sensitive and/or confidential information that you consider is necessary to include in your application is provided in Draft End-of-Waste - Guidance Document Part 2.
The EPA will acknowledge receipt of your application. Once your application is assigned to an inspector, it will be assessed, and further information may be requested as part of the assessment process. The inspector will present a Recommended Decision to the Board of the EPA, prior to issuing a Draft Decision to the applicant. A period of time will be allowed for the applicant to make representations, prior to the EPA issuing its Final Decision.
Timescales will vary depending on the quality and complexity of the applications received.
If your application is of poor quality or has significant gaps, the EPA may not be in a position to make a decision or a decision may be significantly delayed.
If your end-of-waste application is successful, your obligations do not end there. You are now at the beginning of the ongoing compliance process. Your end-of-waste criteria will set out how you will monitor and demonstrate ongoing compliance. In summary you need to ensure that:
The EPA is fully committed to working with applicants to support appropriate end-of-waste decisions and consequently Ireland’s circular economy objectives. In addition to case-specific applications by companies, applications from industry organisations and/or groups of companies for end-of-waste national decisions that benefit all operators within a sector are encouraged. National decisions can more efficiently deliver the objectives of the circular economy.
It is important to remember that an end-of-waste application is the basis of an important regulatory decision that requires detailed scrutiny in light of the relevant circumstances of each particular case. It may not always be possible to reach a positive end-of-waste decision, particularly in cases where there is potential for overall adverse impacts.