Business and industrial waste

Managing business waste

Businesses are required to dispose of their waste properly through an authorised waste collection provider or by bringing their waste to an authorised waste management facility. 

Local authorities provide licences to waste collection providers to operate a waste management service in their area. To find out about companies providing commercial waste collection services near you, visit MyWaste.ie

To learn more about managing business waste check out the useful online resources from MyWaste.ie

WEEE for retailers

Under Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations, retailers selling Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) and automotive or industrial batteries are required to register with an approved collective Compliance Scheme such as WEEE Ireland or European Recycling Platform (free of charge) or with their Local Authority (at a cost of €200 per year). 

Retailers are required to take back WEEE from customers purchasing a similar, like-for-like item. This should be free and promoted in store. Learn more at weeeireland.ie

Hazardous waste

There are regulations in place for the shipment of hazardous waste within Ireland and for importing and exporting hazardous waste into and out of the country. This is managed by the National Transfrontier Shipment (TFS) Office, located in Dublin City Council. 

The National TFS Office is responsible for the enforcement and administration of the Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR). This includes hazardous waste for recovery or disposal, as well as items on the Amber List, the Green List, Mixed Municipal Waste and Dry Recyclable Waste.

To find out more, visit the National TFS Office.

Construction and demolition waste

Waste from building works, demolition, and development of infrastructure is considered Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste. This includes:

• Excavated soil
• Concrete
• Brick
• Tiles
• Glass
• Metal
• Plastic
• Wood

Construction and demolition waste must be collected by an authorised waste collector and taken to an authorised waste facility. Contact the waste management office at your local authority to find out more. 

Farm plastics

There are several rules and regulations surrounding the production and disposal of farm plastics. These apply to both producers and suppliers of farm plastics, and farmers disposing of plastics.

Producers and suppliers 

Producers and suppliers of farm plastic are required to register with the Irish Farm Film Producers Group (IFFPG) or register and submit returns to each local authority in whose area they provide plastic for sale and offer a deposit and refund scheme. Suppliers must exclusively offer for sale plastic provided by a member of the Irish Farm Film Producers Group.

Farmers 

Farmers are obligated to recover and correctly dispose of any farm plastic waste that is generated during their activities. 

Farmers have a number of options to correctly dispose of farm plastics:

• Arrange collection at your farmyard by IFFPG or deliver the waste to a bring-centre arranged by IFFPG
• Arrange a collection at the farmyard by an authorised waste collector
• Deliver waste farm plastics to a waste facility permitted to accept waste farm plastics. 

Whatever means of disposal you choose, you must ensure that you receive a receipt to prove that waste plastics have been correctly disposed of.

Under no circumstances should farm plastic be burned or buried. This may result in prosecution.

How to become a licensed waste collector

Local authorities issue permits to companies who wish to operate a waste collection service in their area. This permit is required under the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations, 2007 and Waste Management (Collection Permit) (Amendment) Regulations 2008.

To apply for a permit and view a list of authorised waste collection providers, visit the National Waste Collection Permit Office website.