Publication
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
Ireland uses the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model for dealing with a number of waste streams and has developed six Producer Responsibility Initiatives (PRIs), based on the ‘producer pays’ principle. This is where producers have responsibility to finance the collection and environmentally sound waste management of their products at end of life.
To date, these schemes have operated very successfully and have enabled Ireland to reach both domestic and EU recycling targets. A summary of Ireland’s current performance and progress towards EU targets is available on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website.
Each of Ireland’s EPR schemes must ensure that their actions proactively enable Ireland to transition towards a circular economy. More information on theses measures can be found in the EPR chapter of the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy.
Packaging is used to enclose or protect products for distribution, storage, sale and use. Recycling of packaging waste is good for the environment because considerable resources and energy are used to produce the various packaging material streams. Ireland must achieve EU recycling targets for the following packaging types: glass, plastic, paper and board, metals and wood.
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive sets these targets for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste and requires member states to set up collection, recycling and recovery schemes for such waste. The Directive is currently under review by the EU Commission to evaluate the essential requirements for packaging. The review aims to assess how best to improve packaging design to promote reuse and recycling, increase recycled content in packaging, tackle excessive packaging and reduce packaging waste.
In our Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy we have committed to ensure that all packaging on the Irish market is reusable or recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030. More information on our commitments in relation to Packaging can be found in the Plastic and Packaging Waste chapter of the Plan.
The Irish compliance scheme for packaging is operated by Repak.
Further information on what to do with waste packaging can be found on the MyWaste website.
Many of our everyday products and appliances use batteries and accumulators as their energy source. When these reach the end of their life, many of their components could be recycled, avoiding the release of hazardous substances to the environment and providing valuable materials for important products and production processes.
Ireland is currently required to meet EU targets for Battery recovery and recycling as outlined in the Batteries Directive. The main objective of the Directive is to ensure the safe collection and disposal of waste batteries, preventing the disposal of spent batteries as mixed municipal waste. The EU Commission recently carried out an evaluation of the Directive and a new draft Batteries Regulation was proposed in December 2020. This proposal aims to update the EU's legislative framework for batteries and it is an integral part of the EU Green Deal.
Member states are currently engaged in discussions with the EU Commission to assess this proposal and it is intended to have the new Batteries Regulation come into force in January 2022.
The Irish compliance schemes for batteries are WEEE Ireland and ERP Ireland.
Further information on how to dispose of domestic waste Batteries can be found on the MyWaste website.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is one of the fastest growing waste streams globally. When not disposed of properly, WEEE can be harmful to human health and the environment.
Ireland is required to meet EU targets for WEEE as outlined in the WEEE Directive. The Directive sets out measures for the collection, treatment and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment, enabling consumers to return their WEEE free of charge.
WEEE can also contain hazardous materials. If these items are not managed properly at end of life it can cause environmental and health problems. EU restrictions on the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment are outlined in the RoHS Directive. The legislation requires heavy metals and flame retardants to be substituted by safer alternatives.
The Irish compliance schemes for WEEE are WEEE Ireland and ERP Ireland.
More information on how to recycle domestic WEEE can be found on the MyWaste website.
End of Life Vehicles (ELVs) contain hazardous materials that can damage the environment and pose a risk to public health if not disposed of safely. Ireland must reach EU recycling and recovery targets for ELVs as set out in the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive.
The Directive outlines measures which aim to prevent waste from motor vehicles and vehicle components that have reached the end of their life-cycle and to promote vehicle reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery. It requires that collection systems be set up to ensure that end-of-life vehicles are effectively and safely disposed of without damaging the environment.
This Directive is currently under review by the EU Commission.
The Irish compliance scheme for ELVs is operated by ELVES CLG. Information on how to dispose of your end of life vehicle can be found on their website.
The Tyre Regulations came into effect in 2017 and enabled the establishment of a compulsory compliance scheme for tyres, funded by a visible Environmental Management Cost (vEMC). Under the tyre regulations, all imported used car and motorcycles placed onto the Irish market for the first time incur a charge to cover the Environmental Management Cost (EMC) on tyres associated with the vehicle (including any spare tyres). Circol ELT are approved by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), to manage the collection and recycling of waste passenger car and motorcycle tyres and this charge is to fund the environmentally sustainable outcomes for tyres once they reach the end of their useful life. In association with Applus Ireland, these EMC charges will now be collected at the 27 inspection centres in Ireland for all such vehicles.
The cost associated for this EMC is outlined below with the cost clearly displayed on your receipt.
Ireland first introduced farm plastic regulations in 2001 and is one of the few countries in Europe to have introduced national legislation specifically designed to promote the recycling of farm plastics.
The Farm Plastics Regulations promote the recovery and collection of farm plastics waste (silage wrap, bags and sheeting). The Regulations require producers of farm plastics (manufacturers and/or importers) to either become directly involved in the recovery of farm plastics waste from customers through the offering of a deposit and refund scheme, or to participate in an approved compliance scheme for recovery and recycling.
The Irish compliance scheme for farm plastics is IFFPG.