Public Consultation – Submit Your Views
January 14, 2020
Public Consultation for new Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy and Consultation on the Transposition of the Circular Economy Waste Package
The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment has launched two consultations on Waste, one focused on the elaboration of a new Waste Action Plan, the other centred on the transposition of four EU Directives.
Submissions to both consultations are open until 5pm on Friday 21st of February 2020. WEEE Ireland will participate in the consultation and we encourage our Members to also join the conversation by submitting their comments to the Department directly. Additionally, WEEE Ireland Members should ensure that their trade association is representing their views during this consultation.
Public Consultation Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy
Submissions to this consultation can be submitted to:
By email: Wastecomments@DCCAE.gov.ie
Or by post to:
Waste Action Plan Consultation, Waste Policy & Resource Efficiency
Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment
Newtown Road
Wexford Y35 AP90
The consultation is divided into sections, some particularly relevant to EEE, lighting and battery producers. Each section contains a set of questions.
Respondents are not required to submit their views on all sections or questions. They can choose to respond only to the particular questions or sections relevant to them, or to respond on the issues of concern without addressing specific questions.
Sections particularly relevant to WEEE Ireland Members are:
SECTION 7: Circular Economy
The implementation of a Circular Economy approach aims at keeping materials and resources in circulation and use for as long as possible and therefore reducing the need for virgin materials and fossil fuels. This is especially relevant to plastics, metals and rare elements found in EEE and batteries.
Measures planned include:
- Introducing a national waste reduction target and new legally binding commitments on recycling.
Obligations related to the availability of spare parts, reparation and reuse could be put in place to achieve these targets.
- The establishment of a Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy Advisory and Implementation Group.
- Targeted consultation with stakeholders across Government, industry and communities towards the development of an All-Sector Circular Economy Strategy for Ireland providing long term policy direction.
SECTION 15: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
The European Commission has recognised that EPR can act as a major policy tool for accelerating the Circular Economy. As the fastest growing waste stream globally, it is crucial that WEEE is managed efficiently.
Measures planned include:
- Incentivising producers to design products that contribute to waste prevention and facilitate recycling by taking into account their durability, reparability, re-usability, recyclability and the presence of hazardous substances.
In some Member States, the establishment of reparability and durability indexes is being considered.
- The modulation of the financial contributions paid by producers by 2023, with an initial focus on the application of eco-modulated fees for packaging, WEEE and batteries waste streams.
This could take the form of a Bonus/Malus system, depending on certain characteristics of the product placed on the market. See below an example taken from the French Scheme Ecosystem fee sheet:
- Introduction of new EPR schemes.
- It will also be ensured that the fees paid by a producer to a collective scheme reflect the true end-of-life management costs of its specific products.
To access the complete list of sections & the corresponding questions, please refer to the consultation documents HERE
Consultation on the Transposition of the Circular Economy Waste Package
Submissions to this consultation should be made as follows:
By email: wppr@dccae.gov.ie
Or by post to:
Circular Economy Transposition, Waste Policy and Resource Efficiency
Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment
Newtown Road
Wexford Y35 AP90
Member States, including Ireland, are required to transpose the 4 revised Directives into national law by 5th July 2020:
- The Waste Framework Directive (Directive (EU) 2018/851);
- The Landfill Directive (Directive (EU) 2018/850);
- The Packaging Directive (Directive (EU) 2018/852);
- Directives on end-of-life vehicles, batteries and accumulators, and waste electrical and electronic equipment (Directive (EU) 2018/849);
The Department invites general submissions on the transposition of these Directives into Irish law. The Department also includes a number of questions on specific issues.
The Single Use Plastic Directive (Directive (EU) 2019/904), which contains provisions related to those contained in the Waste Framework Directive and the Packaging Directive, is to be transposed into national law by 5 July 2021. Given these links, the consultation also includes elements on the transposition of the SUP Directive.
To access the list of questions and for further information on this consultation, please refer to the consultation documents HERE
Link to the Department’s website:
Consultation on a new Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy
Consultation on the Transposition of the Circular Economy Waste Package
