Waste management planning, including with regard to infrastructure provision, is the responsibility of local authorities under Part II of the Waste Management Act, 1996 (as amended). Under section 60(3) of that Act, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance, in specific cases, by a local authority of their statutory functions under the Act.
Copies of the individual licences for each landfill should be available to download on the EPA website, alternatively the EPA may be contacted in relation to queries regarding a particular landfill. Similarly, information on planning permissions should be available from the relevant Planning Authority or an Bord Pleanála. Decisions on whether a facility intends to apply to the EPA, a Planning Authority or an Bord Pleanála to extend its operability beyond the current terms of its planning permission or licence is a matter for each individual facility. Details of applications in progress should similarly be available from the relevant regulatory body.
Notwithstanding the above, in 2016 a situation arose where there was insufficient capacity to dispose of residual municipal waste. To prevent or limit potential environmental pollution, additional available landfill capacity was activated under Section 56 of the Waste Management Act 1996 by the local authority sector in 2016.
My Department is working with the three Regional Waste Management Planning Lead Authorities and other regulatory bodies to try to ensure that such emergency measures are not required going forward.
