The Clean Technology Centre has been commissioned by the EPA to produce three new major policy reports on best practice and environmental law in the EU. These reports will inform Irish policies on envioronmental best practice, especially in the area of resource efficiency and the circular economy.

Best Practices from the European Implementation Reviews of Environmental Law in the EU-28 Countries.

This report identifies and outlines the best practices from the EU-28 Environmental Implementation Review (EIR). It contains the “Points of Excellence” examples highlighted in the Commission reports, together with some additional good examples of best practice, as selected by the authors from within the main body of the EIR reports. Where necessary, this has been supplemented with additional information from country sources in order to get a sense of what each best practice activity entails. This will support future environmental best practice in Ireland. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

A Review of Current Priorities and Emerging Issues in European Waste Policy

This report outlines the key current issues, and important emerging issues, in the waste policy arena in the European Commission, and in selected Member States. Analysis was carried out under a number of headings, including:  Policy framework; Regulation measures; Major initiatives; Best practice examples; Targets for waste, resource efficiency, and related areas; Priority waste streams / streams of concern / challenging waste streams; Perceived challenges in addressing the circular economy policy ambitions; Drivers – positive and negative influencing factors; Materials of concern; Emerging issues

Issues reviewed included: Priority streams; Construction and demolition (C&D) waste; Food wast;  Circular economy and resource efficiency;  Materials policies and programmes; Regulation measures; Taxes, levies, and fiscal measures; Extended producer responsibility; Recycling and reuse; Hazardous waste; Emerging issues. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Key Waste Policy Issues in Eight Selected EU Countries Annex to the Report: Review of Current Priorities and Emerging Issues in European Waste Policy

This annex should be read in conjunction with the main report ‘Review of current priorities and emerging issues in European Waste Policy’. The document contains brief factsheets on waste and related policy issues for Austria, Denmark, Finland, Belgium (Flanders), France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Issues reviewed fore each Member State included: Priority streams; Construction and demolition (C&D) waste; Food wast;  Circular economy and resource efficiency;  Materials policies and programmes; Regulation measures; Taxes, levies, and fiscal measures; Extended producer responsibility; Recycling and reuse; Hazardous waste; Emerging issues.  CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD