Monday 1 September 2025

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its report on the mid-term evaluation and implementation of Ireland’s National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027. 

Measures to improve the prevention and management of hazardous waste

The plan sets out measures to improve the prevention and management of hazardous waste such as: 

• Farm hazardous waste including spent sheep dip; 
• Unused and expired medicines;
• Household hazardous waste including surplus paint; and
• The assessment of national infrastructure and capacity. 

Progress on the plan’s priority areas has been variable with notable improvements and progress in some areas with limited advancement in others.

Hazardous waste generation decreased from 580,000 tonnes in 2019 to 381,000 tonnes in 2023 due to, for example, a decrease in dredging activity and lower volumes of contaminated soils.

'Strong case for investment'

David Flynn, director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Sustainability, said: “Our report, published today, highlights a strong case for investment in Ireland’s hazardous waste treatment infrastructure. This is needed to ensure highly polluting hazardous wastes are properly and safely managed. Ireland exports half of its hazardous waste for treatment. We cannot continue to rely on other countries to treat significant quantities of hazardous wastes generated in Ireland.”

This mid-term evaluation presents updates on the implementation of all the recommendations and actions identified in the plan with seventeen recommendations completed or on-track to date.

Warren Phelan, programme manager for the circular economy, added: “The report shows some progress in establishing systems for the collection of household hazardous and farm hazardous wastes. However, the setting up of a national take back scheme for unused and expired medicines has been slow. 

"Sustained investment to ensure the durability and resilience of these systems is needed. Producers whose products result in hazardous wastes, such as paints, oils and farm chemicals, need to take greater responsibility, including funding for their safe management.”

The report Mid-term evaluation of the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027 – Incorporating the 2024 Annual Report is now available on the EPA website.