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Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations, 2003

How we manage our waste is critical to the state of our environment. Year-on-year waste volumes continue to grow. We now have a waste crisis because of the cost of disposal and the need to move away from landfill disposal.

The Government, in line with E.U. requirements, is about to introduce new regulations requiring us, (the waste producer) to recycle certain types of waste instead of landfilling them. These wastes are described as Specified Packaging Waste, which must be separated and recycled. Specified Packaging Wastes include

  • Glass
  • Aluminium & steel
  • Paper
  • Wood
  • Fibreboard (modified wood products)
  • Plastic sheeting (shrinkwrap, balewrap etc.)

The importance of separating and recycling these materials must be acknowledged by all and a particular effort made to divert them away from Landfill.

The current Packaging Waste Regulations were seen to have a number of defects and consequently the new draft regulations are the result of the efforts of a multidisciplinary task force in rectifying such defects along with filling recognised gaps. The regulations will tackle the twin issues of compliance and enforcement so as to eliminate “free riders” and to ensure that the 2005 targets (see below) will be achieved.

Each local authority will now be responsible for the enforcement of these regulations within their functional areas and must take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that packaging waste targets are achieved.

These goals were set out in E.U. Packaging Waste Directive 94/62/EC as follows -

By December 2005

  • between 50 - 65% (by weight) of packaging waste must be recovered
  • between 25 - 45% (by weight) of packaging waste must be recycled.

These Regulations have been amended by the Waste Management (Packaging) (Amendment) Regulations, 2004.  These Regulations will have a profound influence on how all businesses and industries manage waste. 

Commercial premises that produce waste have strict requirements under this new legislation.

  • A waste producer must segregate their specified packaging waste arising on their premises into the component waste streams of glass, paper, fibreboard, wood, plastic sheeting, aluminium and steel.
  • A waste producer must then present the separated wastes for collection by a recovery operator, for the purposes of recovery.
  • A waste producer has an obligation to ensure that the recovery operator holds all the necessary licenses and permits.
  • A waste producer must not contaminate specified packaging waste e.g. store and present separated waste in a manner that renders it unrecoverable.
  • To comply with these requirements, a waste producer must immediately make arrangements with a recovery operator to ensure compliance with the regulations.

Waste collectors will also have added responsibilities as a result of this new legislation.

  • A waste collector must not service a waste producer who does not sort his specified packaging waste from his waste going for disposal.
  • A waste collector must recover all specified packaging waste that they collect.
  • A waste collector also has a duty to prevent specified packaging waste being contaminated.
  • To enable a waste collector to continue to collect waste legally, they will have to make arrangements with all commercial customers to ensure compliance with these new regulations.

One fundamental change arising from the new regulations pertains to the recycling of glass waste produced by the Pubs, Clubs and Hotel trade. Up to now there has not been a cohesive approach on glass waste produced by this sector. These draft regulations clarify this particular matter and defines all such glass waste (i.e. bottles sold and consumed in Pubs, Clubs and Hotels) as within the scope of these draft regulations.

In many parts of the county Vintner Groups have been acting responsibly by ensuring the recycling of glass waste. Now every such outlet will have to make similar private arrangements for the collection and recycling of glass. Please note that within Co. Sligo the bringbank network is a service for domestic household glass only.

It is anticipated that little additional cost will be incurred by business implementing these new procedures because of the already high cost of landfilling which varies between €127 and €152 per tonne within the Connaught Region.

For further queries and additional information on any aspect of the Regulations please contact the Environment Section (071) 9111111. Copies of the Regulations are also available free of charge.

Sligo County Council, as the Waste Authority, within the functional area of Co. Sligo wish to inform all waste producers, collectors and landfill operators of their obligations under the Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations, 2003.

Key Notes

Sectors affected Those who produce, collect and dispose of specified packaging waste of which there are three main groups;

  • The Producer:

    These Regulations Require all Businesses to segregate packaging waste arising on their premises for collection by a recovery operator, for the purposes of recovery.

  • The Collector:

    A recovery operator is required not to landfill specified packaging waste, which has been presented and collected for the purposes of recovery.

  • The Landfill Operator:

    These regulations require that specified packaging waste shall not be landfilled by any other person and in particular a Local Authority cannot accept such material for landfilling.

Specified Packaging Waste

Glass, Aluminium, steel, paper, fibreboard (modified wood products), wood & plastic sheeting (shrink wrap, plastic film etc.).

Producer Responsibility

All commercial premises must;

  • Segregate their specified packaging waste arising on their premises into the component waste streams.
  • Present these separated wastes for collection by a recovery operator, for the purposes of recovery.
  • Ensure that the Recovery Operator holds all the necessary licenses and permits.
  • Must not contaminate specified packaging waste e.g. store and present separated waste in a manner that renders it unrecoverable.
  • Immediately make arrangements with a recovery operator to ensure compliance with the regulations.

Collector Responsibility

A collector;

  • Cannot service a waste producer who does not sort specified packaging waste from waste going for disposal.
  • Must recover all specified packaging waste.
  • Must not contaminate specified packaging waste
  • Immediately make arrangements with all commercial customers to ensure compliance with the regulations.

Vintners: Up to now there have been many different views on glass waste produced by this sector. These draft regulations clarify this matter and define all such glass waste (i.e. bottles sold and consumed in Pubs, Clubs and Hotels) as within the scope of these draft regulations. As such outlets must make arrangements for the collection and recycling of glass.

Please note that within County Sligo the bringbank network is a service for domestic/ household glass only. 



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