Mayo County Council to adopt brand-new waste management plan

Mayo County Council is set to adopt Ireland's first National for a Circular Economy.

The first of its kind waste plan was launched on Friday at an event in The Gardens International in Limerick. 

This plan aims to tackle the significant waste challenges faced in Ireland and provides a new framework for the prevention and management of waste from 2024 to 2030.

Kevin Swift, Regional Waste Co-ordinator Connacht Ulster, said Ireland’s ‘significant increase’ in yearly waste generation is having ‘a dramatic impact on our environment, our climate and our natural resources’.

“Last year alone we collected over 13 and a half million tonnes of waste – or over 2 tonnes per person. That’s the equivalent weight of two cars!” he said.

Mr Swift said the new approach is ‘urgently’ needed. 

The plan proposes a range of policy interventions that will contribute to the prevention of waste and the increase of recycling rates.

Key measures already introduced by the Government include incentivised charging for commercial waste, the roll-out of food and garden waste bins to all households, the deposit return scheme and new or increased levies on waste recovery and landfill activities.

An ambitious target of 0% waste growth per person, which will equate to a 7-10% reduction in predicted waste generation by 2030, is set out in the plan. 

It also aims to encourage sustainable consumption, with proposals for more awareness campaigns, education programmes, demonstration projects, as well as promoting the correct use of collection bins, be it at home or at work.

The combined effect of the interventions is set to prevent 300,000 tonnes of waste, as well as increasing the recycling rate nearly 9 percent.

“It’s also really important that we become more creative with the waste we do produce and look at innovative ways to encourage recycling, such as the Deposit Return Scheme,” added Mr Swift.

The private waste sector in Ireland is valued at over €1.4bn and provides employment for approximately 10,000 people. 

The scale of the financial and human commitment to waste services is large, yet the plan highlights that the transition to a circular economy will require additional State investment of at least €40 million to achieve the desired outcomes.

This new plan will replace the existing Regional Waste Management Plans and will be managed by the three Regional Waste Management Planning Lead Authorities on behalf of the Local Government Sector.

Despite waste management in Ireland beginning almost 30 years ago, the challenges arising have ‘changed significantly’.

“We have therefore adapted our approach and created a more holistic plan built on collaboration with key partners and all stakeholders to achieve the plan's ambition and accelerate the transition to a more circular economy,” said Mr Swift.

The waste management plan is ‘the culmination of two years of engagement’ between key partners and stakeholders, including the Government, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), local communities, and more, but ‘it doesn’t stop here’. 

“It’s vital we continue this collaboration, as we all have a part to play in creating a circular economy to maintain and improve sustainability” he concluded.

For more information and to read the National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy 2024-2030, see mywaste.ie.