Hazardous Waste

Trends in industrial hazardous waste generation, 1996 to 2006

Copyright Environmental Protection Agency

Trends in industrial hazardous waste generation, 1996 to 2006
Copyright Environmental Protection Agency

Trends in industrial hazardous waste generation, 1996 to 2006

Copyright Environmental Protection Agency

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Hazardous wastes accepted at civic amenity sites (recycling centres), 2007

Copyright Environmental Protection Agency

Hazardous wastes accepted at civic amenity sites (recycling centres), 2007
Copyright Environmental Protection Agency

Hazardous wastes accepted at civic amenity sites (recycling centres), 2007

Copyright Environmental Protection Agency

Enlarge image

Hazardous waste poses a substantial threat to public health and the environment. Like regular waste it appears in many forms. They include paints, paint thinners, varnishes, adhesives, antifreeze, solvents, aerosols, inks, resins, waste engine oil, gear and lubricating oil, weed killers, fungicides, pesticides and insect killers, poisons, energy-saving lightbulbs, fluorescent tubes, thermometers, lead acid batteries, Ni-Cd batteries, photographic chemicals, waste medicines, printer cartridges, ribbons and toners, polishes, metal cleaners, drain cleaners, oven cleaners and organic solvents. These products all contain substances that are poisonous, corrosive or flammable.

For this reason disposal of hazardous waste differs from non-hazardous waste. It should not be disposed of in the mixed municipal waste collection. Hazardous waste is typically dealt with in four different ways:

• recycling
• neutralisation
• incineration/destruction
• hazardous waste landfills

In Ireland , local drop-off facilities for householders and small businesses are managed by a professional hazardous waste industry and are treated appropriately.

Large quantities of hazardous waste are generated in Ireland and there is scope to reduce this through waste prevention programmes. Approximately half of Irish hazardous waste is exported for treatment and unreported hazardous waste is still a problem in this country. 

Policy: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2008-2012 in September 2008. The Plan describes the national system for hazardous waste management and identifies any gaps that exist in this system. It lays out recommendations to ensure all hazardous waste is collected and managed appropriately.  A full run down of their 29 recommendations can be found on the EPA's website.