Friday, 03 October 2025
EPA Claims Ireland Will Miss Waste Recycling Targets Ireland is on course to miss its legally binding recycling targets, according to the latest report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The 2023 data reveals that recycling rates have stagnated over the past decade, and waste generation continues to rise at a pace that outstrips Ireland’s […]
Ireland is on course to miss its legally binding recycling targets, according to the latest report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The 2023 data reveals that recycling rates have stagnated over the past decade, and waste generation continues to rise at a pace that outstrips Ireland’s capacity to recycle.
The EPA report shows that Ireland recycled only 42% of its municipal waste in 2023, well below the 55% EU target for 2025. Despite generating 3.13 million tonnes of municipal waste last year, recycling levels have not improved meaningfully in a decade. Just 1.3 million tonnes of municipal waste were recycled, with over 814,000 tonnes going to material recycling and 480,000 tonnes treated through composting or anaerobic digestion.
One of the report’s key findings is the growing gap between packaging waste generation and recycling. Between 2016 and 2023, packaging waste grew almost four times faster than the rate of recycling. This is especially concerning for plastic packaging, where the recycling rate in 2023 was only 30%, far short of the 50% target for 2025.
In 2023, 1.2 million tonnes of Ireland’s municipal waste were exported, accounting for 42% of all waste managed, a significant increase from 2022. Of this, 51% went for recycling, 38% for energy recovery, and 11% for composting or anaerobic digestion.
Additionally, around 1.3 million tonnes were sent for incineration with energy recovery, representing 43% of municipal waste managed. The landfill rate dropped slightly to 14%, but Ireland must reduce this to 10% or less by 2035 to meet EU goals.
The construction sector remains the largest source of waste in Ireland, producing nine million tonnes of construction waste in 2023. While not included in the municipal waste recycling rate, it represents a major challenge in Ireland’s overall waste management efforts.
David Flynn, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Sustainability, emphasised the need for urgent action:
“Ireland’s waste generation is too high. Our report highlights that Ireland needs to make measurable progress on stalled recycling rates and reduce overall consumption. We need investment in recycling infrastructure and to stop exporting a significant amount of our municipal waste to other countries.”
The EPA also criticised the excessive levels of packaging waste, noting that Ireland is missing opportunities to reduce, reuse, and recycle valuable materials.
In response, Minister of State Alan Dillon, with responsibility for the Circular Economy, launched a public consultation on Ireland’s Second Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy. The consultation is open until 5 November 2025.
Minister Dillon stated:
“The circular economy is not just an environmental ambition; it is an economic and social opportunity. By rethinking how we design, use, and reuse materials, we can cut waste, protect resources, and create new jobs and businesses. Our economic growth has brought new demands, from housing and infrastructure to food and manufactured goods. To meet our EU targets, Ireland must significantly increase the amount of waste we recycle each year. ”
He also pointed to new initiatives such as:
The Deposit Return Scheme
Expanded brown bin access
Packaging reforms to improve recyclability
These efforts aim to increase Ireland’s circular material use rate by at least two percentage points per year.
3.13 million tonnes of municipal waste generated in 2023 (vs. 3.19 million in 2022)
42% recycling rate for municipal waste (no improvement in a decade)
Plastic packaging recycling at 30%, far below the 2025 target of 50%
1.2 million tonnes (42%) of municipal waste exported
43% of municipal waste went to incineration with energy recovery
Landfill rate reduced to 14%, down from 15% in 2022
Nine million tonnes of construction waste generated, making it the most waste-intensive sector
With time running out to meet the EU’s 2025 and 2035 recycling targets, Ireland faces a pivotal challenge. The EPA’s findings show that without significant investment in domestic recycling infrastructure, a reduction in waste generation, and greater public and industry engagement, the country will fall short of its environmental commitments.
Ireland stands at a crossroads, either intensify its efforts to transition to a circular economy or risk the environmental and financial consequences of continued underperformance in waste management.
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