Written answers
Thursday, 9 September 2021
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Waste Management
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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65. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the current status of the working group established to examine the national end-of-waste applications backlog; the number of applications with the EPA for end-of-waste status for recovered waste materials; the number received in each calendar year; the number of applications processed in each calendar year; the number of staff and grades working full-time on these applications; the average processing time for a standard application and for a priority application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42530/21]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Waste Framework Directive provides a framework whereby material recovered or recycled from waste may be considered to no longer be waste. As the competent authority in Ireland for End of Waste determinations is the EPA, questions in relation to applications are more appropriately directed to that Agency than to myself, and I have asked the EPA to respond directly to the Deputy with the detailed information sought.
I am very conscious of the importance of the End of Waste in the transition to a more circular economy, in particular in relation to the construction sector. The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economywhich was launched by Minister Ryan in September 2020, has a dedicated chapter on End of Waste, and commits to a number of measures including to the establishment of a working group to develop national end-of-waste applications for identified priority waste streams. This working group has now been established with the first meeting taking place in March 2020. My officials, in conjunction with the members of the working group, are currently considering what waste streams should be prioritised for national end-of-waste applications.
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