Environmental Indicators Ireland 2019

Municipal waste generated in Ireland peaked at an average annual 3.3 million tonnes in 2005-2008, up from 2.8 million tonnes in 2001-2004. It fell to 2.6 million tonnes in 2014, before increasing to 2.8 million tonnes in 2016.

There was a sharp decrease in the proportion of municipal waste sent to landfill in Ireland from an average annual rate of 76% in 2001-2004 to 21% in 2014. It increased to 26% in 2016.

The recovery rate of packaging waste (such as paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, steel, aluminium and wood) in Ireland increased from an average annual 43% in 2001-2004 to 91% in 2015. It fell back to 88% in 2016.

The total weight of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) collected in Ireland fell from an average annual 49,500 tonnes in 2007-2009 to 42,600 in 2010-2014, before rising to 51,300 in 2016.

Large household appliances accounted for 58% of total WEEE collected in 2016.