Waste Management Regulations

An intensive programme of regulatory updating has been carried out under the 1996 Act, and a list of current Regulations is given hereunder. These Regulations address matters such as waste planning, producer responsibility obligations, the movement, transhipment and general control of hazardous wastes, and public access to information, as well as waste licensing and permitting. All regulations can be viewed on www.irishstatutebook.ie

Statutory Instruments

2010

Waste Management (Registration of Sewage Sludge Facilty) Regulations 2010 (pdf, 134 kb)

SI 31 of 2010 – Waste Management (Landfill Levy)(Amendment) Regulations 2010(pdf, 102 kb)

SI 13 of 2010 – Waste Management (Landfill Levy) Order 2010 (pdf, 99 kb)

2009

SI 566 of 2009 – Waste management (Management of Waste from Extractive Industries) Regulations 2009 (pdf, 190 kb)

SI 550 of 2009 – Waste Management (LandFill Levy) Amendment Regulations (pdf, 102 kb)

SI 508 of 2009 – Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 2009 (pdf, 172 kb)

SI 508 of 2009 Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations – Frequently Asked Questions (pdf, 250 kb)

SI 496 of 2009 – Waste Management (Landfill Levy) Order 2009 (pdf, 99 kb)

S.I. 286 of 2009 – Waste Management (Prohibition of Waste Disposal by Burning) Regulations 2009 (doc, 131 kb)

2008

SI 524 of 2008 Waste Management (Certification of Historic Unlicenced Waste Disposal and Recovery Activity) 2008 (pdf, 119 kb)

Waste Management (Batteries and Accumulators) Regulations (S.I. No 268 of 2008)(pdf, 334 kb)

Waste Management (Batteries and Accumulators)(Amendment) Regulations 2008 (SI No 556 of 2008) (pdf, 103 kb)

Screening Regulatory Impact Assessment on Waste Management (Batteries and Accumulators) Regulations (S.I. No 268 of 2008) (pdf, 233 kb)

Explanatory Notes to Waste Management (Batteries and Accumulators) Regulations (S.I. No 268 of 2008) (pdf, 409 kb)

Summary of submissions received regarding Waste Management (Batteries and Accumulators) Regulations (S.I. No 268 of 2008) (pdf, 277 kb)

S.I. No 199 of 2008 – Waste Management (Landfill Levy) Regulations 2008 (pdf, 146 kb)

SI 168 of 2008 Waste Management Landfill Levy Order 2008 (pdf, 99 kb)
As of 1 July 2008, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government increased the landfill levy, using the power available to him under the Waste Management Acts. The Waste Management (Landfill Levy) Order 2008 amends section 73(3) of the Waste Management Acts 1996 to 2008 to allow for the landfill levy to be increased from €15 per tonne to €20 per tonne for each tonne of waste disposed of at an authorised landfill facility. As of 1 July 2008, the landfill levy rate is €20 per tonne for each tonne of waste disposed of at authorised landfill facilities. The landfill levy rate remains at €20 per tonne for each tonne of waste disposed of at unauthorised landfill facilities.

S.I. No. 113 of 2008- Waste Management (Registration of Brokers and Dealers) Regulations 2008 (doc, 151 kb)

SI 87 of 2008 – Waste Management (Collection Permit) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (pdf, 109 kb)

SI 86 of 2008 – Waste Management (Waste Management (Facility Permit & Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (pdf, 136 kb)

2007

SI 821 of 2007 – Waste Management (Facility Permit & Registration)Regulations 2007(pdf, 308 kb)

SI 820 of 2007 – Waste Management (Collection Permit)Regulations 2007 (pdf, 253 kb)

Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations 2007 (pdf, 196 kb)

SI 419 of2007- Waste Management (Shipments of Waste) Regulations 2007 (pdf, 101 kb)

Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) – Regulations 2007 – SI 664 of 2007(pdf, 204 kb)

Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations – Guidance (doc, 2,609 kb) 14/01/2008

Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2007 – Explanatory Notes(doc, 307 kb)

Waste Management (Environmental Levy) (Plastic Bag) (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2007
These regulations revoke the Waste Management (Environmental Levy) (Plastic Bag) (Amendment) Regulations, 2007 (S.I. No. 66 of 2007) and provide for an increase in the amont of the levy on plastic bags from 15 cent to 22 cent per bag with effect form 1 July 2007.

2006

Waste Management (End of Life Vehicles) Regulations 2006

These Regulations are designed to implement the provisions of Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on end-of-life vehicles. They are intended to facilitate the achievement of the –

85% reuse/recovery with 80% reuse/recycling by average weight per vehicle and year, on and from the date of commencement of the Regulations, and
95% reuse/recovery with 85% reuse/recycling by average weight per vehicle and year, by the 1 of January 2015.

SI 282 of 2006 – End of Life Vehicles Regulations (pdf, 370 kb)

SI 282 of 2006 – End of Life Vehicle Regulations – FAQs (Technical Standards) (pdf, 140 kb)

ELV (End of Life Vehicles) Directive (pdf, 134 kb)

Waste Management (Landfill Levy)(Amendment) Regulations, 2006 (S.I. No. 402 of 2006)
These Regulations amend the Waste Management (Landfill Levy) Regulations 2002. The Regulations provide that the levy payable on waste disposed of at an unauthorised landfill shall be €20 per tonne after 28 July 2006.

Waste Management (Landfill Levy)(Amendment) Regulations 2006 (SI 402 of 2006)(doc, 41 kb)

Waste Management (Packaging) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 308 of 2006)
These Regulations are intended to faiclitate the transposition and implementation of Directive 2004/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Coucil amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste and, in particular, introduce measures aimed at facilitating the achievement by end 2011 of a new overall increased packaging waste recovery target of 60% (with 55% by way of recycling) in addition to a prescribed range of material specific recycling targets.

SI 308 of 2006 – Waste Management (Packaging) Amendment Regulations (pdf, 40 kb)

2005

Waste Management (Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations, 2005 (S.I. No. 341 of 2005)
These Regulations are designed to minimise waste arisings of certain hazardous substances by prohibiting the use of certain heavy metals in electrical and electronic equipment as required by Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.The Regulations impose obligations on persons who supply electrical and electronic equipment to the Irish market, whether as retailers, importers or manufacturers.
Explanatory Note
Guidance Note
Waste Management (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations, 2005 (S.I. No. 340 of 2005)
These Regulations are designed to promote the recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment. They will facilitate in particular the achievement of the targets for the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment in an environmentally sound manner established by Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment.

The Regulations impose obligations on persons who supply electrical and electronic equipment to the Irish market, whether as retailers, importers or manufacturers. An exemption from these obligations is available to persons who participate in a scheme for the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment in an environmentally sound manner operated by an approved body.
Explanatory Note
Waste Management (Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations, 2005 (S.I. No. 290 of 2005)
The purpose of these Regulations is to amend the Waste Management Act 1996 for the purpose of giving legislative effect in Ireland to two EU Directives EU Directive 2002/95/EC on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS), and EU Directive 2002/95/EC 2002/96/EC on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

These Regulations are designed to:

promote the recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment. They will facilitate in particular the achievement of the targets for the collection,treatment, recovery and disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment in an environmentally sound manner established by Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment.
minimise waste arisings of certain hazardous substances by prohibiting the use of certain heavy metals in electrical and electronic equipment as required by Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

The Regulations will facilitate the imposition of obligations on persons who supply electrical and electronic equipment to the Irish market, whether as retailers, importers or manufacturers. An exemption from these obligations will be available to persons who participate in a scheme for the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment in an environmentally sound manner operated by an approved body.
Explanatory Note

2004

Waste Management (Packaging) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 871 of 2004)
These Regulations amend the Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations, 2003 (S.I. No. 61 of 2003) which are aimed at promoting the recovery of packaging waste and facilitating the achievement of packaging waste recovery targets established by European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste.

Waste Management (Packaging)(Amendment) Regulations 2004 (SI 871 of 2004)(pdf, 60 kb)

Waste Management (Licensing) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 395 of 2004)
These Regulations provide for the continued operation of the system of licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency of waste recovery and disposal activities under Part V of the Waste Management Act, 1996. The Regulations set out procedures for the making of waste licence applications, reviews of licences and consideration by the Agency of objections, including the holding of oral hearings.

2003

Waste Management (Environment Fund) (Prescribed Payments) Regulations, 2003 (S.I. No. 478 of 2003)
These regulations provide that moneys from the Environment Fund may be used for initiatives undertaken in the State, or on an international or trans-national basis relating to the protection of the environment and / or sustainable development, including areas such as research and development, contributions to international organisations etc.

European Communities (Incineration of Waste) Regulations, 2003 (S.I. No. 275 of 2003)
These Regulations implement Directive 2000/76/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 December 2000 on the incineration of waste. They apply to both incineration and co-incineration plants. The Directive specifies more stringent standards and other operational requirements to be applied in relation to these facilities and applies to new plants as from 28 December 2002 and existing plants from 28 December 2005.

Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations, 2003 (S.I.No. 61 of 2003)
These Regulations replace the Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations, 1997 and are designed to promote the recovery of packaging waste. They are intended, in particular, to facilitate the achievement of the targets for the recovery of packaging waste established by Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste.

SI 61 of 2003 – Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations (pdf, 73 kb)

2002

Waste Management (Landfill Levy) Regulations, 2002 (S.I. No. 86 of 2002)
These Regulations provide for the commencement and operation of the landfill levy provided for under section 72 of the Waste Management Act, 1996, as inserted by section 11 of the Waste Management (Amendment) Act, 2001. The Regulations impose the landfill levy with effect from 1 June 2002, at an initial rate of €15 per tonne of waste disposed of to landfill.

SI 86 of 2002 – Waste Management (Landfill Levy Regulations) (doc, 83 kb)

Waste Management (Prescribed Date) Regulations, 2001 (S.I. No. 390 of 2001)
These Regulations provide that 14 September 2001 is the prescribed date by which a waste management plan under section 22 of the Waste Management Act, 1996 must be made.

Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations, 2001 (S.I. No. 341 of 2001)
These Regulations revise and replace the regulations of 1997 and are designed to assist the improved recovery of waste farm plastics. The Regulations impose obligations on producers and suppliers of certain farm plastics for this purpose including obligations, as appropriate, to operate a deposit and refund scheme, to collect waste farm plastics, to take steps for the recovery of such waste, to register with and provide information to local authorities and to provide information to purchasers. An exemption from these obligations is available to persons who participate in a waste recovery scheme operated by an approved body.

Waste Management (use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture ) (Amendment) Regulations, 2001 (S.I. No. 267 of 2001)
These Regulations amend the Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations, 1998 by amending the two tonne per hectare per year limit on the amount of dry matter to be added to soil. They also require that sludge is used in accordance with a nutrient management plan.

2000

Waste Management (Licensing) Regulations, 2000 (S.I. No. 185 of 2000)
This Regulation is revoked with the exception of articles 3 and 4 and the First Schedule. The current regulation on waste licensing is the Waste Management )Licensing) Regulations 2004 (No 395 of 2004).

Waste Management (Hazardous Waste) (Amendment) Regulations, 2000 (S.I. No. 73 of 2000)
The Waste Management (Hazardous Waste) (Amendment) Regulations, 2000 give effect to the provisions of Commission Directive 98/101/EC of 22 December 1998, which prohibits the marketing of all batteries and accumulators containing more than 0.0005% of mercury by weight, including those cases where the batteries and accumulators are incorporated into appliances. Button cells and batteries composed of button cells with a mercury content of no more than 2% by weight are exempted from this prohibition.

1998

Waste Management (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. No. 164 of 1998)
These Regulations provide for the permitting by local authorities of waste oil collection, and other miscellaneous matters.

Waste Management (Hazardous Waste) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. No. 163 of 1998)
These Regulations update and replace a number of previous Regulations, and implement provisions of several EU directives relating to asbestos waste, batteries and accumulators, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), waste oils and hazardous wastes generally.

Waste Management (Transfrontier Shipments of Waste) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. No. 149 of 1998)
These replace 1994 Regulations made for the purposes of giving effect to Council Regulation (EEC) No. 259/93 on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community, and provide for certain administrative details, in particular relating to enforcement. These Regulations were revoked with the coming into effect on 12 July 2007 of the Waste Management (Shipments of Waste) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 419 of 2007).

Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. No. 148 of 1998)
These replace 1991 Regulations made for the purpose of giving effect to Council Directive 86/278/EEC on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture.

Waste Management (Movement of Hazardous Waste) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. No. 147 of 1998)
These Regulations provide for a system of consignment notes in respect of the movement of hazardous waste within the State and transpose certain related EU requirements into Irish legislation.

Waste Management (Amendment of Waste Management Act, 1996) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. No. 146 of 1998)
These Regulations amend the scope of section 51(2) of the 1996 Act, concerning the recovery of sludges and agricultural waste.

European Communities (Licensing of Incinerators of Hazardous Waste) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. No. 64 of 1998)
These Regulations implement EU Council Directive 94/67/EC on the incineration of hazardous waste.

1997

Waste Management (Register) Regulations, 1997 (S.I. No. 183 of 1997)
These Regulations prescribe information to be entered in public registers to be maintained by local authorities and the EPA.

Waste Management (Planning) Regulations, 1997 (S.I. No. 137 of 1997)
These Regulations specify matters to be addressed in local authority waste management plans.

1996

European Communities (Amendment of Waste Management Act, 1996) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. No. 166 of 1998).
These Regulations amend certain provisions of the 1996 Act for the purpose of enabling full effect.

Draft Material

Draft Waste Management (Facility Permit and Registration)(Amendment) Regulations 2012 (doc, 29 kb)

Draft National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste (pdf, 3,243 kb)

Draft Waste Management (Household Food Waste Collection) Regulations (doc, 89 kb)

Draft Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 2009 (doc, 187 kb)

Draft Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations 2007 (pdf, 205 kb)

Draft Waste Management (Packaging)Regulations 2007 Statement on Regulatory Impacts (doc, 167 kb)

Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations -Draft (pdf, 249 kb)

Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations -Draft Guidance (pdf, 1,137 kb)

Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations -Draft- Explanatory Note(pdf, 259 kb)

Draft Waste Management (Management of Waste from the Extractive Industries) Regulations 2008 (pdf, 214 kb)

Draft Waste Management (Waste Framework Directive) Regulations 2010 (pdf, 1,596 kb)