Improved rules on the collection and treatment of electric waste entered into force on 13th August 2012.   Currently only one third of electrical and electronic waste in the EU is separately collected within the documented system. The Directive introduces a collection target of 45% of electronic equipment sold that will apply from 2016 and, as a...

The Priority Substances in Water Directive controls emissions, losses and discharges of so-called ‘priority substances’ to water by establishing environmental quality standards (EQSs) for them in water and requiring monitoring programmes.  The substances concerned include chemicals, certain metals, biocides, plant protection products and dioxins. For substances classified as priority hazardous substances, the legislation requires their...

New rules that entered into force on 13th August 2012 will see EU citizens better informed about major threats posed by industrial plants in their immediate vicinity. The rules are part of an update of the Seveso Directive, a key instrument in industrial risk management. The Directive obliges Member States to draw up emergency plans...

Ireland has been fined €3.5m by the European Court of Justice for failing to comply with environmental law. In two judgements the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Ireland has to pay financial penalties for failure to comply with earlier Court judgments that established a breach of EU environmental law. This is...

Directive 98/15/EC replaces directive 91/271/EEC and provides standards for treatment for urban waste water. The directive is implemented in Ireland by S.I. 254/2001 Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations, 2001 and S.I. 440/2004 Urban Waste Water Treatment (Amendment) Regulations, 2004 Parameter & Quality Values ECOS Environmental Consultants Limited

The Energy Efficiency Directive will enter force on 4 December following its publication in the EU’s official journal on Wednesday. Member states will have until June 2014 to transpose it into national law. Annual reporting on progress towards meeting the efficiency targets of each member state will be required. National action plans must be issued every...

The European Commission has outlined its plans to change EU legislation on environmental impact assessments (EIAs) –  to replace Directive 2011/92/EU. EU figures show that there, on average, are up to 26,000 EIAs across the bloc each year, and that the duration of the process is generally more than 11 months. There is mounting concern among...

Directive 91/156/EEC replaces Directive 75/442/EEC on waste and provides for prevention of odour and noise emissions from wastewater treatment facilities. The directive is implemented in Ireland by S.I. 787/2005 European Communities (Waste Water Treatment) (Prevention Of Odours And Noise) Regulations 2005