Limerick Clare Kerry Regional Waste Management Office co-ordinate the implementation of the objectives set out in the Limerick Clare Kerry Regional Waste Management Plan and ensure that the targets set out in the Plan are achieved within the specified dates. NIPP (or New Integrated Prevention Programme) is a co-ordinated programme of waste prevention initiatives undertaken...

The Repak fee structure for a Major Producer comprise two distinct elements: Participation Fees (2012): Participation Fees are charged at a flat fee per tonne, irrespective of the material type, and are charged depending on the activity, or activities, of the Member Material Specific Fee: Material Specific fees – are based on the weight of...

Since 1997 Irish legislation has placed the responsibility for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste on those who handle packaging at any stage of the supply chain. A ‘Producer’ of packaging waste is a business who, for the purpose of trade or otherwise in the course of business sells or otherwise supplies other persons...

The Annual Environmental Report (AER) is a requirement for all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) licensed facilities. The EPA is currently standardising the content of AER’s to collect only relevant, interpreted data. The EPA  have produced a guidance document and a series of templates intended to assist in standardising the reporting format of the AER and...

Regulation 7 of the Groundwater Regulations states that “Point source discharges and diffuse sources liable to cause groundwater pollution shall be controlled so as to prevent or limit the input of pollutants into groundwater”. This ‘prevent or limit’ objective is the core groundwater quality objective.  In principle, ‘prevent or limit’ measures are the first line...

Regulation 4 of the Groundwater Regulations (S.I. No. 9 of 2010) places a duty on public authorities to promote compliance with the requirements of the regulations and to take all reasonable steps to: prevent or limit the input of pollutants into groundwater prevent the deterioration of the status of all bodies of groundwater protect, enhance...

Due to the comprehensive nature of the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations, 2010 (S.I. No. 9 of 2010) (Groundwater Regulations), and their relation to the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) (WFD) and the Groundwater Directive (2006/118/EC) (GWD), a consistent approach towards technical assessment is needed. The EPA have published guidance on a framework for the processes,...

The technical assessment of a discharge to groundwater activity is risk-based and receptor-focussed. The assessment  follows the source-pathway-receptor model which underpins all groundwater protection schemes in Ireland as well as the Water Framework Directive on which the Groundwater Regulations are based. Every discharge activity carries a degree of risk.  The challenge lies in differentiating between...

There are many different rainwater harvesting systems on the market in Ireland. The basic principles of operation are as follows: Rainwater is collected from the roof drainage system, the debris is filtered out and the water is stored in a tank. Water is supplied on demand from the storage tank by a submersible pump through...

Harvested Rainwater can be used for many activities where potable water quality is not essential. In Ireland for a domestic water user, the design figure for the amount of water used by any one person is 150 litres per day. For the majority of households this is potable/mains water much of which is not used...