Landfill Levy - Brief Summary (Ireland)

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Introduced
2002

Aims
The levy is designed to encourage the diversion of waste away from landfill and generate revenues that can be applied in support of waste minimisation and recycling initiatives. All levies are remitted to the Environment Fund.

Rates

The inital rate was €15 per tonne. This increased to €20 in 2008, and to €25 in 2009.

From 1 February 2010, it is proposed to increase the landfill levy to €30 per tonne for waste disposed of at authorised and unauthorised landfill facilities. The necessary order and regulations required to effect the next increase will be drafted in early 2010.

Achievements
A €13 million fund has been set up to encourage businesses to become involved in manufacturing recycled waste into products that can be sold on.
Currently, Ireland exports 1.5 million tonnes – three-quarters of all annual recycled waste – mostly to China, from where it returns as products such as cartons, fleeces and school bags.
The Government is to provide the funds earmarked to businesses as part of a market development programme over five years. The money will go towards research and development for firms ready to transform waste such as glass, plastic, paper and organic materials into manufactured products.
Tenders will be produced in coming months looking to develop new composting techniques, while another tender will concentrate on waste plastic.

The landfill levy has been blamed for the rise in illegal dumping over the border in Northern Ireland. By 2004, average landfill charges (the fee charged at a landfill which includes the landfill levy) in the Republic were an average of €200 per tonne, compared to only €50 in Northern Ireland (Irish Times, 2010). This illegal waste is to be reclaimed by the Irish government at significant cost.

References

Irish Times, 2010. Landfill levy led to ilegal waste export. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0803/1224276087972.html