Waste Management

Waste & Emissions

Waste accounted for 1.6 per cent of GHG emissions in 2009. Government policy in relation to waste management is grounded in the recognised hierarchy of waste options and EU waste management law.

Landfill

The Government reported to the IPPC in 2006 that compliance with Directive 1999/31 on landfill would result in an average annual saving of GHG of 06 percent. Methane emissions from landfills have fallen by 15 per cent since 1990, largely due to the diversion of waste from landfills, the implementation of the National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste 2006, and requirements imposed by the EPA in IPPC and waste licences. By 2009, the EPA reported that 60 per cent of methane was being flared at landfills.

In 2007, there were 12 landfill gas electricity generating units operating with a combined installed capacity of 29.5MWe. The electrical output from landfill gas in 2006 was 108GWh, an increase of 2 per cent on 2005 which represented 0.35 per cent of gross electricity consumption in 2007.

Food Waste

The Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 2009 require the segregation and beneficial use of food waste arising in the commercial sector, thereby diverting this waste from landfill.