Version 1.0 published 10 November 2021
General Information
In accordance with the European Union (Waste Directive) Regulations 2011-2020, the EPA reports annually on municipal waste (specifically household waste generation and preparation for reuse and recycling of household derived paper, metal, plastic and glass), as required under the Waste Framework Directive.
Similarly, in accordance with the same Directive and Regulations, the EPA reports annually on the generation and material recovery of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste (excluding natural soils and stone).
The EPA is committed to producing national and European waste statistics in accordance with the best international statistical practice and subscribes fully to the European Statistics Code of Practice, as outlined in the EPA Revision and Dissemination Policy for Official European Waste Statistics.
Collection
Nationally, the EPA is empowered to collect waste data under a wide range of legislation including inter alia the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, the Waste Management Act, 1996, the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register Regulations 2007 and 2011, the European Union (End-of-Life Vehicles) Regulations 2014, the Waste Management (Shipments of Waste) Regulations 2007, the European Union (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2014, the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014, the Waste Management (Hazardous Waste) Regulations 1998, the European Communities (Shipments of Hazardous Waste exclusively within Ireland) Regulations 2011, the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, and the Waste Management (Facility Permit and Registration) Regulations 2007.
The EPA endeavours to obtain data for all authorised waste collectors and waste treatment facilities in Ireland, effectively representing a census of the relevant waste sectors. Data collection for EPA-licensed facilities is carried out online via the EPA’s annual Environmental Performance Reporting (EPR) system and for local authority-permitted collectors and facilities via the National Waste Collection Permit Office’s (NWCPO) online annual return system. The list of authorised entities is reviewed and updated every year to ensure that it includes all authorised waste operators.
Processing and Analysis
Statistical classifications and definitions are specified by Eurostat and other EU municipal waste reporting guidance. With regards to specific List of Waste (LoW) classifications, the EPA Waste Statistics Team employs sub-categories of the EU system where the EU list does not provide the resolution needed for reporting; for example, 20 03 01 Mixed residual municipal waste is subdivided into 20 03 01 A (household sources) and 20 03 01 B (non-household sources).
The relevant datasets are collated for reporting in accordance with Eurostat guidance and the EPA Waste Statistics Team’s data processes. The total for each aggregate and data source is linked to a draft subtotal and an overall total or mass balance, and these are validated extensively by cross-checking against both internal and external independent data sources.
Any changes to these draft subtotals are captured via comment fields to record all adjustments made and other relevant information prior to finalising data for tabulation and reporting. Relevant information is summarised in the Quality Report accompanying the data submission to Eurostat. Revisions are managed as per the EPA Revision and Dissemination Policy for Official European Waste Statistics.
Dissemination
Data are submitted to Eurostat by 30th June of the reference year +2, i.e. 2020 data are collected and processed in 2021 and submitted to Eurostat by 30th June 2022. Data are published annually on the EPA’s National Waste Statistics web resource and are summarised in the EPA’s National Waste Summary Reports available on the EPA Publications webpage.
Version 1.0 published 10 November 2021
General Information
The EPA is commited to producing national and European waste statistics in accordance with best international statistical practice and subscribes fully to the European Statistics Code of Practice, as outlined in the EPA's Quality Statement for Official European Waste Statistics.
For the OECD Municipal Waste Indicator, the EPA reports annually on how much municipal waste is generated in Ireland and its treatment (e.g. recycling, incineration and landfill). Municipal waste is made up of household waste and commercial waste that is similar to household waste.
Collection
The EPA Waste Statistics Team obtains data for all authorised waste collectors and waste treatment facilities in Ireland, effectively representing a census of the relevant waste sectors.
Nationally, the EPA is empowered to collect waste data under a wide range of legislation including inter alia the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, the Waste Management Act, 1996, the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register Regulations 2007 and 2011, the European Union (End-of-Life Vehicles) Regulations 2014, the Waste Management (Shipments of Waste) Regulations 2007, the European Union (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2014, the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014, the Waste Management (Hazardous Waste) Regulations 1998, the European Communities (Shipments of Hazardous Waste exclusively within Ireland) Regulations 2011, the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, and the Waste Management (Facility Permit and Registration) Regulations 2007.
Data collection for EPA-licensed facilities is carried out online via the EPA’s annual Environmental Performance Reporting (EPR) system and for local authority-permitted collectors and facilities via the National Waste Collection Permit Office’s (NWCPO) online annual return system. The list of authorised entities is reviewed and updated every year to ensure that all authorised entities due to make returns are identified and submit a response.
Processing and Analysis
Statistical classifications and definitions are specified by Eurostat and other Eurostat/OECD municipal waste reporting guidance. With regards to specific List of Waste (LoW) classifications, the EPA Waste Statistics Team employs sub-categories of the EU system where the EU list does not provide the resolution needed for reporting; for example, 20 03 01 Mixed residual municipal waste is subdivided into 20 03 01 A (household sources) and 20 03 01 B (non-household sources).
The relevant datasets are collated for reporting in accordance with Eurostat/OECD guidance and the EPA Waste Statistics Team’s data processes. The total for each aggregate and data source is linked to a draft subtotal and an overall total or mass balance, and these are validated extensively by cross-checking against with both internal and external independent data sources.
Any changes to these draft subtotals are captured via comment fields to record all adjustments made and other relevant information prior to finalising data for tabulation and reporting. Relevant information are summarised and explained in the Quality Report accompanying the data submission to Eurostat. Revisions are managed as per the EPA Revision and Dissemination Policy for Official European Waste Statistics.
Dissemination
The EPA submits data to Eurostat not later than in Q3 of the reference year +2; i.e. 2020 data are collected and processed in 2021 and submitted to Eurostat not later than Q3 2022. As outlined in the EPA Revision and Dissemination Policy for Official European Waste Statistics data are published annually on the EPA’s National Waste Statistics web resource and the Eurostat ‘Municipal waste by waste management operations’ (‘env_wasmun’) database. The data are also summarised in the EPA National Waste Summary Reports available on the EPA Publications webpage.
