End-of-waste criteria in Ireland
Levels of end-of-waste criteria
There are three levels of end-of-waste criteria that can be utilised in Ireland, as illustrated below:
In order to legally recover material from waste and for that material to cease to be waste (meet end-of-waste),
- the producer (waste operator) must hold an appropriate waste authorisation and any other relevant consents, which may include appropriate planning permission;
- applicable end-of-waste criteria must be available to utilise; and
- the producer must demonstrate that the applicable end-of-waste are met.
European end-of-waste criteria
End-of-waste criteria have been set at European level for a number of materials, with further criteria also under development as set out in the table below.
| End-of-waste Material | Reference no. | Status | Link to criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron, steel and aluminium scrap | EU 333/2011 | Available for use | Council Regulation (EU) N° 333/2011 |
| Glass cullet | EU 1179/2012 | Available for use | Commission Regulation (EU) N° 1179/2012 |
| Copper scrap | EU 715/2013 | Available for use | Commission Regulation (EU) N° 715/2013 |
| Recycled plastics | - | Under development |
(Expected to be available Q4 2024/ Q1 2025. See The commission starts to develop end-of-waste criteria for plastic waste (europa.eu) for further information |
| Textiles | - | Planned for development in 2023 |
(Development planned to begin in 2023) |
In order to produce recycled aggregates in accordance with the National End-of-Waste Criteria-Recycled Aggregates (EoW-N001/2023) a registration must be made by the producer in advance of production. A list of producers can be found on the EPA’s End-of-Waste Register along with details of how to register.
For more information refer to European Union level end-of-waste criteria.
National end-of-waste criteria
National end-of-waste criteria have been developed by the EPA for recycled aggregate as set out in the table below.
| End-of-waste material | Reference no. | Status | Link to the criteria & supporting documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recycled aggregates | EoW - N001/2023 |
Available for use. |
In order to produce recycled aggregates in accordance with the National End-of-Waste Criteria-Recycled Aggregates (EoW-N001/2023) a registration must be made by the producer in advance of production. A list of producers can be found on the EPA’s End-of-Waste Register.
How to Register
In order to register as a producer of recycled aggregate in accordance with the National End-of-Waste Criteria-Recycled Aggregates (EoW-N001/2023), the producer must hold an appropriate waste authorisation for the recovery activity. Where a producer intends to produce recycled aggregates under multiple waste authorisation, a separate registration should be made for each waste authorisation.
To make a registration complete the following steps:
- Sign up or log on to the EPA's EDEN portal. Refer to 'Guidance on How to Register for EDEN'.
- Request access to the ‘Circular Economy Module’ in EDEN. Wait for your application request to be approved by the EPA.
- Launch the Circular Economy Module.
- Select Apply and End-of-Waste from the toolbar.
- Complete the end-of-waste registration form.
If you have queries or issues in relation to EDEN, please submit these to eden@epa.ie.
If you have queries in relation to the end-of-waste registration form, please submit these to article 28@epa.ie.
Information supplied in a notification, including the registration form will be published on the EPA website via the End-of-Waste Register.
Post Registration
When a registration form is submitted to the EPA, the registration will be assigned a registration reference number and details of the registration will be entered on the above End-of-Waste Register.
The producer will receive an email with a copy of the registration form for their records, including the registration reference number.
The relevant environmental enforcement authority shall receive an alert when a waste authorisation within their remit has been added to the register. The National Waste Collection Permit Office shall also be alerted. The environmental enforcement authority may decide to undertake site visits or request records.
Once registered, the producer may commence production of recycled aggregate in accordance with the National End-of-Waste Criteria-Recycled Aggregates (EoW-N001/2023), provided they hold appropriate authorisation for the recovery activity.
De-registration
Where a producer ceases production in accordance with a registration, the producer should de-register. Registrations should also be de-registered if a waste authorisation has expired, with a new registration made for production under any revised/reviewed waste authorisation.
To de-register complete the following steps:
- Log on to the EPA's EDEN portal.
- Launch the Circular Economy Module.
- Select Notify/manage and My Authorisations from the toolbar.
- Click on the relevant registration number
- Under Quick Actions in the Dashboard, select de-register button and complete the de-registration step.
The registration will then display as de-registered on the End-of-Waste Register.
Single-case decisions
The EPA have made decisions on single case applications as set out in the Table below. Please note the criteria are only available to the producer who applied for the criteria.
| End-of-waste material | Reference no. | Producer | Date determined | Link to decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recycled plastics (LDPE) | Art28-0027 | Irish Packaging Recycling Ltd. | 12th June 2018 | EoW Criteria Art28-0027 Irish packaging recycling |
|
Recycled aggregates |
Art28-0034 |
Integrated materials solutions limited partnership |
16th July 2019 |
|
|
Recycled aggregates |
Art28-0035 |
Starrus Eco Holding limited, T/A Panda Greenstar |
13th August 2019 |
|
|
Pulverised fuel ash and furnace bottom ash
|
Art28-0014
|
Electrical Supply Board (ESB)
|
10th September 2019 |
|
|
24th August 2023 |
||||
|
Recycled plastics (PET) |
Art28-0036 |
Shabra Recycling Limited |
15th October 2019 |
|
|
Ammonium sulphate |
Art28-0028 |
Enva Ireland Limited |
3rd July 2020 |
|
|
Recycled plastics (PP & PE) |
Art28-0032 |
ADN Materials Limited |
5th November 2020 |
|
|
Graded wood briquettes |
Art28-0031 |
Conroy group (T/A Flamers) |
21st July 2021 |
|
|
Calcium fluoride additive |
Art28-0041 |
John Gannon Concrete Limited (t/a Gannon ECO) |
14th September 2021 |
|
|
Woodchip |
Art28-0038 |
Tiger Woodchip Limited |
30th November 2021 |
|
|
Recycled plastics (mixed plastics) |
Art28-0061 |
Green Generation Ireland Limited |
17th May 2022 |
|
|
Recycled aggregates |
Art28-0056 |
Shannon Valley Plant Hire |
11th October 2022 |
|
|
Recycled aggregates |
Art28-0059 |
Enva Ireland Limited |
11th October 2022 |