International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

Although the European legislation does mention minimisation of packaging material
use and volumes, this was not translated into specific targets in relation to the
prevention of packaging at source with implementation deadlines as had been done
for recycling and recovery.
12.3 When was the Policy Introduced?
The original Statutory Instruments were introduced in Ireland in 1997 and 1998, as a
means of transposition of the 1994 European Directive, and therefore the
background of the policy framework has been in place for 10 years. The 1997 and
1998 regulations were replaced in law in Ireland by the 2003 regulations and then
further amended in 2004. Most recently, the waste packaging policy was
consolidated in the 2007 Regulations, which came into effect on 31st March 2008.
12.4 Key Organisations Involved in Implementation and
Management
12.4.1 Policy and Transposition of Regulations in Ireland
Overall waste management is developed by the Department of the Environment
Heritage and Local Government (DoEHLG). Within the area of packaging waste, the
DoEHLG are also the government body, which approves the application of Compliance
Schemes/Compliance Bodies, of which to date only one has been approved in
Ireland, namely Repak.
12.4.2 Implementation and Administration of the Regulations
The DoEHLG are involved in the implementation of the packaging regulations, both
through being the responsible body for the transposition of the European legislation
into Irish law, and in terms of the interaction they engage in with the Repak
Compliance Scheme. Within this framework, the DoEHLG are also the body to which
feedback and consultation is returned for the on-going operation and performance of
the regulations. As part of this function, the department undertook consultation prior
to the drafting of the replacement 2003 Packaging Regulations. Most recently, the
DoEHLG undertook Regulatory Impact Analysis in relation to the introduction of the
2007 Waste Management Packaging Regulations (S.I. No. 798 of 2007).
Repak, as the operator of the only approved compliance scheme, is responsible for
the administration and demonstration of compliance for participating companies,
through funding from packaging levies, via its participating companies of the scheme,
through management of the reporting at a national level from their members to the
EPA and through the dissemination to members of information on compliance and
innovation.
At a local level, the individual Local Authorities are involved in implementation
through the provision of information on packaging regulations to producers and
recovery operators within their administrative area, and through the receipt of
reporting from producers and recovery operators, where those companies are not
demonstrating compliance through membership of the Repak scheme (Self
Compliers).
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International Review of Waste Policy: Annexes