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

44.13 Effect of the Policy on Pricing of Resources / Services
The Regulations (1998 Regulations & 2007 Regulations /2008 Amendment
Regulations) encourage waste prevention, minimisation (in order to satisfy tonnage
thresholds) and reuse on site as well as waste recovery. Hence, it is reasonable to
suggest that there is a reduction in the quantities of C&D waste being hauled off site
to landfill facilities. This effect translates to a cost reduction in the waste
management element of a project. In theory, the cost of construction to the client or
public should reduce accordingly, however such is at the discretion of the
construction industry or is dependent on the buoyancy of the construction industry at
the time in question.
44.14 Evasion and Enforcement
The relevant local authority attaches such conditions as are necessary to ensure the
proper enforcement of the waste permit.
Once a waste facility permit is granted, compliance with the relevant legal
requirements are checked and enforced. Checks take place through monitoring,
inspection and auditing and by taking relevant enforcement action where necessary.
The local authorities provide enforcement in accordance with the Environmental
Enforcement Network (EEN) Guidance Manual, launched in 2005. The manual
provides comprehensive guidance on environmental enforcement and in particular it
provides specialist guidance on waste enforcement.
Audit programmes are conducted by the local authorities to verify the data provided
by holders of waste facility permits on waste acceptance, waste recovery and waste
disposal.
44.15 Lessons Learned
The provision of the latest Waste Permit Regulations is based on lessons learned and
experiences gained during the issuing and monitoring of waste permits under the
1998 Regulations. For example, Sub-Committee D of the National Construction and
Demolition Waste Council sought a simplification of the permitting process and a
reduction in the time period needed for determination of applications.
Draft Waste Management Regulations were issued for public consultation with a view
to simplifying and streamlining the existing system and propose a number of
amendments to existing Regulations. The proposals attempted to resolve a number of
issues raised by the construction industry stakeholders and have the objective, where
feasible, of making authorisation applications for reuse and recycling of C&D wasterelated
activities a more attractive proposition for developers.
By means of a discussion with the Irish Waste Management Association (IWMA), a
view was expressed that the draft regulations published for consultation were
significantly different than the final Waste Permit Regulations published. While the
nature of consultation is to gather stakeholder input and reflect it in final publication,
a review of the consultation process and the methods used to keep stakeholders
informed of progress may be beneficial for future regulation amendment.
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International Review of Waste Policy: Annexes