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

The growing strength of these interactions makes it increasingly challenging to
understand ‘the drivers’ affecting the waste sector. This is for the simple reason that
an increasingly broad array of policies and drivers is likely to exert influence on the
waste sector as it continues to deepen the extent to which it ‘crosses over’ into
productive sectors of the economy. This will be motivated increasingly strongly by
growing concerns around climate change, these concerns themselves giving rise to
new drivers and instruments, as well as changes in existing ones.
51.6.1 Climate Change
The National Climate Change Strategy was first introduced in October 2000 and
detailed the proposed measures to be taken by Ireland to limit the emission of
greenhouse gases from all sectors of the economy. The Strategy was updated in April
2007 by the Strategy for 2007-2012. 883
The Strategy states that waste accounted for 2.5% of GHG emissions as reported
under Ireland’s inventory in 2005. It is worth noting that under the Guidelines for
National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, the majority of GHGs from ‘the waste sector’ are associated with the
emissions of the uncaptured portion of methane which is emitted from landfills.
However, it should be noted that under the IPCC Guidelines, other emissions of
relevance to the waste sector are reported in different parts of the inventory. For
example:
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1. Biological treatment processes also lead to emissions of carbon dioxide,
methane and nitrous oxide. The IPCC asks for these to be reported under the
Waste sector;
2. Where incinerators generate no useful energy, the emissions are reported
under the Waste source category;
3. Where incinerators do generate energy, their emissions are reported under the
‘Energy’ sector emissions. Although all GHG emissions should be reported
(including CO2 from non-fossil sources in waste), the emissions of greatest
relevance are taken to be the CO2 emissions from fossil sources in waste, and
the nitrous oxide emissions associated with combustion, as well as any
methane resulting from incomplete combustion;
4. Where stationary combustion of waste occurs in association with the
generation of energy, these are reported under the relevant sector under the
Energy sector. Similar considerations apply (in terms of the way GHGs are
reported) as for incineration. Activities of relevance here are, for example, the
co-incineration of solid recovered fuels or wood wastes in power stations etc.;
5. The ‘Industrial Processes and Product Use’ (IPPU) part of IPCC Guidance
covers industries such as the cement industry, and the production of most
materials and products. These all are of relevance to the waste sector insofar
as their emissions are affected by the degree to which they make use of
883 DoEHLG (2007) Ireland: National Climate Change Strategy, 2007-2012, April 2007.
International Review of Waste Policy: Annexes