Final Report - ERTDI 22 - Coakley et al
Summary: Developing a framework for Ireland's waste prevention policies and programmes
Ireland currently faces a major challenge regarding its use of materials and energy and its management of waste. The problems relating to solid waste in particular are well documented and have been quantified in several studies.
The increase in waste arisings in Ireland during the decade 1990 - 2000, no doubt influenced by the economic growth during that period, is of particular concern. A radical, urgent and comprehensive response to the problem of waste and materials is therefore required, at all levels in society, and utilising a wide spread of instruments and initiatives.
This response must be focused on prevention - to decouple waste creation from economic growth and reverse current trends. One such approach involves the development and implementation of a waste prevention strategy and such a strategy is strongly recommended in this study.
An inadequate approach to waste management, inefficient use of materials, a dependency on landfill, a resistance to change and an unacceptable level of illegal dumping are some of the inevitable manifestations of the challenging situation consequent from the growing level of waste creation that pertains to this country.
Annual increases in waste arisings (almost 10% per annum from 1995 to 2000) confirm that Ireland has not yet succeeded in decoupling waste generation from economic growth (as measured by Gross Domestic Product).
This is in contrast to the relative stabilisation of waste arisings in some other regions where practical measures have been implemented that have been designed to arrest and reverse the growth in waste production. In order to meet this and other challenges, in recent years Ireland has adopted a number of important policies in relation to resource use, waste management, sustainability and the abatement of greenhouse gas emissions.
Full executive summary in report.
