Climate Action: Waste and the Circular Economy
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
The Climate Action Plan 2021 includes a suite of measures to help reduce waste and transition towards a circular economy. These include:
A circular economy is based on long-life products that can be renewed, reused, repaired and upgraded to preserve our natural resources, protect habitats and reduce pollution.
Our Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy was published in September 2020. It provides a roadmap to transition to a circular economy in the decade ahead. It includes over 200 measures, such as:
In addition to the publication of the Waste Action Plan, the following actions have been completed:
For more information on the progress Ireland has made to date, please see the Climate Action Plan Progress Reports and Waste Policy and the Circular Economy.
The waste sector was responsible for 1.6% of Ireland's Greenhouse Gas emissions in 2020.
This includes emissions from solid waste disposal, composting, waste incineration, open burning of waste and wastewater treatment and discharge.
Each year, Irish households produce around one tonne of waste. Whether it is recycled or ends up in a landfill, all that waste must be transported, treated and disposed of. More information and statistics on Ireland’s Waste Story is available here .
The State provides a number of supports to help you recycle and dispose of your waste correctly:
Please click here to return to the main climate action page.