All producers of packaging must segregate
their waste packaging arising on their own
premises into specified waste streams e.g.
waste glass, paper, aluminium, steel,
fibreboard, wood, and plastic wrapping. An
authorised waste collector should collect this
waste for recycling.
Mayo County Council
Packaging Waste and the Pub Trade
Legal Background: The Waste Management Act 1996, was the
first all embracing framework governing waste
management. This Act enabled the Minister for
the Environment & Local Government to
introduce a wide range of Waste Management
Regulations. Among these were Regulations
dealing directly with Packaging Wastei.
Packaging waste regulations were initially
introduced in 1997 under the Waste
Management Act, 1996. From the introduction
of new legislation packaging waste is now
regulated by the Waste Management
(Packaging) Regulations 2003 as amended.
Packaging sold and consumed on producer’s
premises come within the scope of the
regulations e.g. bottles and drink cans sold and
consumed in pubs, hotels, and restaurants.
Packaging Waste: Glass bottles and drink cans are defined as
Packaging Waste and therefore this form of
waste must be managed in compliance with the
Packaging Waste Regulations.
Those in the bar trade have a particular
responsibility to manage this fraction of waste
made up from non-returnable bottles and drink
cans in keeping with the law since its
introduction on the 1st March 2003. Since that
date it is no longer legal for businesses (the
regulations call them a ‘producer’) to dispose
of glass bottles/drink cans in landfill.
What must Vintner do?
The purpose of the Regulations and the landfill
bans are to maximise the amounts of glass/can
waste being recovered and eliminate the
disposal of glass in landfill. The “producer” is
obliged to separate packaging waste into
different categories i.e. glass, drink cans,
plastic wrapping, cardboard, drums. This
packaging must be collected by a permitted
waste recovery operator for recycling.
What if nobody is willing to take it for free?
The costs of collecting glass/cans and
transporting them for recovery are substantial
so the Collection and Recovery Operators will
have costs.
However, to dispose of the glass/cans will also
cost money. For example, in the Mayo area the
landfill gate-fee is €150 per tonne including the
Landfill Levyii. To this must be added
transport costs and V.A.T. on the overall
amount. The net result is that disposal cost of a
240 wheel-bin loaded with glass bottles
exceeds the cost of recovery without ensuring
compliance with the law. Consequently paying
an operator to recover and recycle the waste
glass enables compliance with the law and
makes economic and environmental sense too.
Why can’t I use the nearest Bring Bank?
The producer of waste must pay for its
management. The Local Authority is not
obliged to collect packaging waste from
commercial producers. You must manage your
own waste and make proper arrangements,
which comply with the law. Even though you
pay rates you cannot use the network of Bring
Banks provided by the Local Authority. These
are specifically provided for use by
householders and are not for use by business.
To use them would mean that those vintners
who comply with their legal obligations were
subsidising those who do not!
What should I do with glass/drink cans
then?
You should look at ways of reducing your
waste. Ask your supplier for reusable bottles.
Sort these and return them with each new
delivery.
Contact a collector to recycle all your nonreturnable bottles and drink cans. There are a
number of recovery operators working in the
Mayo area who recover glass/cans from Pubs,
Clubs, hotels, and restaurants. You should
contact these immediately and make
arrangements to have your waste glass and
drink cans to be recovered. It probably will
involve costs similar to the cost of disposal but
it will enable compliance and environmental
protection.
The onus is on you to manage your waste in
compliance with the law.
Clearly if a number of business' come together
in an area, collection and recovery costs may
be reduced.
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Why is the law being enforced now?
The Waste Management Act requires the Local
Authorities to draw up and implement Waste
Management Plans. The six authoritiesiii in
Connaught came together as a region and
adopted an integrated waste management plan.
This PLAN identifies packaging waste as a
priority. It is essential that the maximum
amount of this waste stream is recovered,
recycled and diverted from Landfill.
What are other Pubs & Clubs doing?
Schemes are successfully operating in other
areas throughout the country. As stated above
there are already operators in the Mayo area.
There are other operators in Leitrim, Galway
and Sligo. These schemes have succeeded in
recovering thousands of tonnes of glass since
they started.
What else should I do?
You have an obligation to maximise the
amount of your packaging waste being
recovered. This includes cardboard, drink cans
paper, plastic and pallets. You must separate
these materials, store them properly and make
similar arrangements for these waste streams
with appropriate collectors or transport them
yourself to recovery facilities.
How do I find out more about it?
You should make every effort to contact
suitable licensed waste collectors to manage
your glass waste and drink cans. The collector
will tell you what is needed.
For further information contact the Sharon
Cameron, Environment Section, Mayo County
Council, 094-9024444 or
www.connaughtwaste.ie
Remember
Its your environment
You can make a difference.
S.I. No. 242/1997: Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations, 1997 and S.I. No. 382 of 1998.Waste Management (Packaging)(Amendment) Regulations, 1998.
S.I. No. 86/2002 Waste Management (Landfill Levy) Regulations 2002.
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The following local authorities came together to form a Connaught Region with regard to waste management planning in compliance with the Waste Management (Planning) Regulations.
They are the counties of Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo and Galway City Council. A common plan was adopted in 2001.
ii