National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy 2024-2030

The National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy 2024-2030 has been published and replaces the Regional Waste Management Plans.

The Plan sets out a framework for the prevention and management of waste in Ireland for the period 2024 to 2030.

This Plan recognises Climate Change as a key driver for both behavioural change and improved waste management practices. The Plan will be evaluated annually for climate impact and annual work plans will be adapted to respond to the climate challenge.

The ambition of this Plan is 0% total waste growth per person over the life of the Plan with an emphasis on non-household wastes including waste from commercial activities and the construction and demolition sector. This ambition is underpinned with a comprehensive series of targets, policies, actions and a suite of key deliverables.

The National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy 2024-2030  is presented in 5 Volumes.

• VOLUME I Sets out the current situation including policy, the existing waste landscape and financial, human and market resources deployed. It also identifies the key waste management challenges facing the State. 
• VOLUME II Sets out the responses to the waste management challenges identified including the Plan ambition, targets, policies and priority actions. Targeted policies and priority actions are identified for a range of focus areas chosen to align with the challenges. 
• VOLUME III Sets out the delivery roadmap for the responses contained in Volume II and contains key deliverables required to enable the ambition, targets, policies, and actions identified. 
• VOLUME IV Provides the supporting information for the Plan in a series of technical appendices. 
• VOLUME V Contains the Strategic Environmental Assessment Statement and Natura Impact Statement.

Key challenges identified in the Plan include resources, organisational capability, policy requirements, specific material stream targets, the provision of infrastructure and waste generation.

Maintaining and enhancing existing waste services will provide a platform for improved circular behaviours and practices to accelerate the transition to a more circular economy.

A successful circular economy will improve consumption behaviours and reduce waste generation and will have wider environmental benefits through reduced greenhouse gas emissions and reduced biodiversity loss.