Irish Regions Office Website

December 15, 2004

Study on Waste Management and the Implementation of the Landfill Directive

The EU Committee of the Regions (CoR), at the request of the European Commission, is to undertake a major study on Waste Management and the implementation of the EU’s Landfill Directive [1999/31/EC].

The aim of the study is to attempt to identify problems associated with the implementation of the Directive. Arising from an analysis of the results of this investigation the CoR will make recommendations to the Commission on how implementation can be improved.

It is expected that the CoR will distribute a questionnaire in May 2005 to gather views on implementation issues from local authorities. This information will feed into the final report, which should be sent to the Commission in November 2005, following approval by the CoR.

The Landfill Directive was adopted on July 16th, 1999 and was transposed into Irish law on the 2nd of July 2002 with the adoption of the Waste Management Licensing (Amendment) Regulations 2002 and European Communities (Amendment of Waste Management (Licensing) Regulations 2000) Regulations 2002. The Directive aims to improve standards of landfilling across Europe, through setting specific requirements for the design, operation and aftercare of landfills, and for the types of waste that can be accepted in landfills.

The Directive also sets targets for the reduction of the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill to 75% by 2006, 50% by 2009, and 35% by 2016, of the total levels of biodegradable waste produced in 1995. Ireland, because of its heavy dependence on landfill, has been given a four-year derogation.

Other provisions in the Landfill Directive include a ban on the landfill of tyres and liquid, hazardous and clinical wastes at new landfills and by 2009 at existing landfills; a requirement to pre-treat waste going to existing landfills by 2009; and a requirement to internalise the costs of the establishment, operation and closure of the landfill into charges. Further information is available at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/landfill_index.htm

Posted by iroauthor at December 15, 2004 12:45 AM