EPA Ireland’s findings derive from its Circular Economy and Waste Statistics Highlights Report 2022. This report has found that Ireland generated 15.7 million tonnes of waste in 2022, which, although a decrease compared to 2021 figures, still shows a growth of over 20% in the last decade.
David Flynn, director of the office of environmental sustainability, EPA Ireland, said: “Today’s report from the EPA shows that Ireland’s progress towards a circular economy is stalling. Current measures to prevent waste, to promote reuse and to encourage recycling are not enough to meet mandatory municipal waste and plastic packaging targets.
“The challenge for Ireland is to reverse these trends and significantly reduce waste production and increase reuse and recycling. Strong implementation of existing policies and the introduction of new measures that support investment in new circular economy infrastructure will help move us away from a wasteful linear economy.”
Construction and demolition waste
Half of all waste generated in Ireland is construction and demolition waste, with 85% being soil and stone. Construction and demolition waste decreased by 8% to 8.3 million tonnes, driven primarily by reductions in soil and stone waste.
Municipal waste
The total amount of municipal waste is relatively static at 3.2 million tonnes. This is a 1% increase from 3.17 million tonnes in 2021 and the same level as recorded in 2020.
15% of municipal waste was disposed to landfill in 2021, while 43% of municipal waste was treated by energy recovery through incineration.
66% of Irish households had access to a brown bin for food and organic waste in 2022. This is a decrease of 3% from 2021. Regulatory changes in 2023 means that waste collectors are now obliged to provide all households with a brown bin.
Single-use plastics
30,680 tonnes of single-use plastic bottles were placed on the market in 2022. A collection rate of 49% was achieved prior to the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme.
The report shows that over the last 10 years Ireland’s recycling rate has stagnated and mandatory targets for municipal and plastic packaging (55% by 2025) are “at a high risk” of not being met. In addition, whilst recycling of packaging waste is 60%, this must reach 65% by 2025.
Positively, regarding construction and demolition waste, 82% is recovered, with the majority being used or recovered in back filling for land restoration. This is in excess of the 70% recovery rate required.
The report also highlighted that Ireland’s capacity to collect and treat waste is vulnerable and underperforming, with an “over-reliance” on other countries to treat its recycling materials and general municipal waste.
In 2022, 1.2 million tonnes of municipal waste was exported for treatment. This included 369,000 tonnes of residual waste exported for energy recovery through incineration.
Warren Phelan, programme manager of the EPA’s circular economy programme said: “Ireland’s economy is characterised by a high consumption of raw materials. However deeper change is needed right across the economy to accelerate the transition to a more circular economy.
“Effective regulation, incentives and enforcement are required to influence businesses and consumers to adopt best practices in production, supply, purchasing, use and reuse of goods, products and services.”
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