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

specific actors, or failing that, to take a very active role in reviewing policy to ensure
the targets are met.
59.1 Key Irish Targets
The main Irish targets are set out below (see also Annex 6.0). Some, though by no
means all, of these targets are set as a direct consequence of implementation of EU
Directives. We highlight, alongside each, the issues with the targets as they were
framed:
From Changing Our Ways:
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� Diverting 50% of household waste away from landfill by 2013;
No clear addressee; no sanction for non-compliance; and limited policy drivers
until very recently;
� A minimum 65% reduction in biodegradable wastes consigned to landfill by
2013;
No addressee(s); no sanction for non-compliance; limited policy drivers until
very recently; relevance not clear when set alongside other targets (for
example, even if waste had not grown, the suggestion is that recycling would
account for a relatively small fraction of the reduction);
� The development of waste recovery facilities employing environmentally
beneficial technologies, as an alternative to landfill, including the
development of composting and other feasible biological treatment facilities
capable of treating up to 300,000 tonnes of biodegradable waste per annum
by 2013;
No addressee(s); no sanction for non-compliance; limited policy drivers (and
arguably, the ABPR has acted to limit development here, until very recently);
potential for perverse outcomes (the ‘up to 300,000 tonnes’ potentially
constrains capacity – it is likely that a figure in excess of this will be required
by 2013);
� Recycling of 35% of municipal waste by 2013;
No addressee(s); no sanction for non-compliance; limited policy drivers; too
easily achievable;
� Recycling at least 50% of C&D waste within a five year period (by 2003), with
a progressive increase to at least 85% over fifteen years (by 2013);
No addressee(s); no sanction for non-compliance; limited policy drivers;
absence of interim measures;
� Rationalisation of municipal waste landfills, with progressive and sustained
reductions in numbers, leading to an integrated network of some 20 state-ofthe-art
facilities incorporating energy recovery and high standards of
environmental protection;
Implicitly, this is aimed at the EPA and planners. It is not obvious what the
relevance of the figure of 20 is, but the figure is specified in an appropriately
vague manner;
� An 80% reduction in methane emissions from landfill, which will make a
useful contribution to meeting Ireland's international obligations;
International Review of Waste Policy: Annexes