The European Commission has issued its starkest warning yet of economic penalties facing the Government due to lack of progress in decarbonising Irish society and in adopting renewable energy.  Its 2018 Country Report Ireland concludes “existing climate change mitigation efforts will not enable Ireland to achieve its Europe 2020 climate goals domestically”. It adds: “Only limited progress...

A Waste Collection Permit (WCP) is required where a person wishes to collect waste for the purposes of reward or profit.  In accordance with Section 24 (1) of the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007 & 2008, a waste collection permit is valid for 5 years from the day it was granted. Our client, a...

A third  of Irish bees are threatened with extinction, with bumblebee populations falling year-on-year due to removal of hedgerows and ditches, use of pesticides and insecticides and climate change.  Last Sunday was the first ever global World Bee Day and experts hope an EU ban on insecticides linked to declining bee populations will help prevent further deterioration of...

Europe has sent a little more than half the plastic waste it used to ship to China to other parts of Asia since Beijing’s environmental crackdown closed the world’s biggest recycling market in January. Recycling closer to home is held back by the fact that the plastic is often dirty and unsorted, the same reasons China turned...

The Environmental Protection Agency  is organising the National Water Event 2018 titled “Pathways to Progress” on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st June 2018 in the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. This event is a key forum for Local Authorities, Regulators and Water Professionals to learn about current changes in Ireland’s water policy and practices. Talks will...

Soil waste classification and waste acceptance criteria are key cost element which need to be factored into most construction projects. Do you know how you ensure that soil and stone waste should be recovered or disposed off in accordance with regulatory requirements and to mitigate against potential future liability? Recovery and disposal of soil and...

The packaging of hazardous waste myst be undertaken correctly to protect employees, local residents, passersby and the environment from harm.  It is also a legal requirement.  The three crucial elements of successful hazardous waste management are Containers Labelling Final packaging There are various containers available for storing different types of hazardous waste, and it’s essential to...

Missing climate change and renewable energy targets will cost the State well in excess of €150m as emissions continue to rise. The Government has admitted it will miss 2020 emission reduction and renewable energy targets, and has undertaken “informal discussions” with EU neighbours with a view to minimising the cost of compliance, the Dáil Committee...

Many citizens and communities already get involved in taking care of the environment they live, work and play in.  The See It? Say It! phone application, developed by the EPA, helps to collect and direct your environmental concern to the correct local authority so that they can take action and address it. What can you report when...

Ireland’s residential energy use and carbon emissions are rising again. That is according to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), who published its detailed analysis, Energy in the Residential Sector.  Between 2014 and 2016, CO2 emissions from the sector increased by almost 7%, having fallen by almost a quarter between 2005 and 2014. SEAI indicates that...