Irish Government to introduce €10 per tonne ‘waste recovery levy’

This will apply to recovery operations at municipal solid waste landfills, waste-to-energy plants and co-incineration plants and the export of municipal solid waste.

Funds collected through the landfill and recovery levies will be channelled into the Circular Economy Fund, directly contributing to environmental enhancements, the government added.

The statement added that the move will help boost recycling rates in the country, which the EU says stands at 41%.

The key message is that more recycling means lower costs

• Ossian Smyth, Irish Government

‘Recycling’

Minister Smyth said: “The key message for households and businesses is that more recycling means lower costs. Ireland has a proven track record of successfully introducing environmental levies, with both the landfill levy and the plastic bag levy being excellent examples of how such measures can help to change how we manage our waste.

“The success of these measures is evident from the significant reductions in recent years of waste disposed of at landfills and the reduced use of disposable plastic bags. Ireland has already reduced the number of landfills from 121 in 1992, to three landfills today. We want to reduce this number even further, which is why we are introducing these levies.”

He added: “In doing so, I am confident that Ireland can reach the top tier of EU performance in terms of waste and the circular economy and meet our 2025 and 2030 EU waste targets.”

Promise

The levy was first outlined in 2020 in the country’s Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy. 

Around 1.3 million tonnes of municipal waste was recovered at waste-to-energy and co-incineration facilities in 2020, the Irish government said.

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications will continue to monitor the market to ensure that any increases in costs for consumers or businesses are reflective of the actual impact of the levies on waste treatment costs.