Hazardous Waste

Generation of Hazardous Waste by Sector (2010).

Generation of Hazardous Waste by Sector (2010).

Proposed Revised National Hazardous Waste Management Plan (EPA, 2013).

Generation of Hazardous Waste by Sector (2010).
Proposed Revised National Hazardous Waste Management Plan (EPA, 2013).

Generation of Hazardous Waste by Sector (2010).

Generation of Hazardous Waste by Sector (2010).

Proposed Revised National Hazardous Waste Management Plan (EPA, 2013).

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Hazardous Waste Facilities.

Hazardous Waste Facilities.

Proposed Revised National Hazardous Waste Management Plan (EPA, 2013).

Hazardous Waste Facilities.
Proposed Revised National Hazardous Waste Management Plan (EPA, 2013).

Hazardous Waste Facilities.

Hazardous Waste Facilities.

Proposed Revised National Hazardous Waste Management Plan (EPA, 2013).

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Hazardous waste poses a substantial threat to public health and the environment. Like regular waste, it appears in many forms. They include paints, paint thinners, varnishes, adhesives, antifreeze, solvents, aerosols, inks, resins, waste engine oil, gear and lubricating oil, weed killers, fungicides, pesticides, insect killers, poisons, energy-saving lightbulbs, fluorescent tubes, thermometers, lead acid batteries, Ni-Cd batteries, photographic chemicals, waste medicines, printer cartridges, ribbons and toners, polishes, metal cleaners, drain cleaners, oven cleaners and organic solvents. These products all contain substances that are poisonous, corrosive or flammable.

For this reason disposal of hazardous waste differs from non-hazardous waste. It should not be disposed of in the mixed municipal waste collection. Hazardous waste is typically dealt with in four different ways:

Recycling;
Neutralisation;
Incineration/destruction;
Hazardous waste landfills.

In Ireland, local drop-off facilities for householders and small businesses are managed by a professional hazardous waste industry and are treated appropriately.

Large quantities of hazardous waste are generated in Ireland and there is scope to reduce this through waste prevention programmes. Approximately half of Irish hazardous waste is exported for treatment and unreported hazardous waste is still a problem in this country.

Policy: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2008-2012 in September 2008. The Plan described the national system for hazardous waste management and identified any gaps that exist in this system. In 2013 the EPA prepared a Proposed Revised National Hazardous Waste Management Plan for public consultation. The plan is a revision of the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan (2008-2012), and all comments should have been submitted by Monday 23rd December 2013.

National Waste Emission Statistics

The Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) contains detailed information on Irish waste statistics. An example is shown below. European statistics, including country-by-country breakdowns, can be found on the E-PRTR website.