Construction waste is Ireland’s largest waste stream, and current recycling rates are too low.
Implementation of new national end-of-waste criteria will reduce construction waste going to landfills, and increase recycling rates.
Use of end-of-waste criteria for recycled aggregates will support green procurement in the built environment.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published National End-of-Waste Criteria for Recycled Aggregates*. *Aggregates meaning materials formed from a mass of fragments or particles loosely compacted together.
The criteria apply to aggregates recycled from construction and demolition waste, including soil and stone, concrete, bricks and ceramics. These criteria will allow for the safe reclassification of recycled aggregates from a waste to a product, which can be subsequently placed on the market.
There is a strong demand for recycled aggregates in Ireland to support development of new infrastructure with a low carbon footprint. The criteria allow for the replacement of virgin aggregates with recycled aggregates, in uses such as general fill, road construction, railway ballast and other non-structural uses.
Keeping materials in use is one of the fundamental elements of a circular economy. These criteria support and facilitate increased recycling in the construction, demolition and waste sectors.
Commenting on the criteria, Mr Micheál Lehane, [Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Sustainability], said: “The publication of national end-of-waste criteria for recycled aggregates is a significant milestone for both the EPA and industry. The criteria will help tackle construction waste, the largest waste stream in the country and support the development of markets for recyclable materials. This is the type of progress which is needed if Ireland is to move in a meaningful way from the linear to the circular economy.”
End-of-waste criteria for recycled aggregates will also support national green procurement ambitions. A publicly-available register on the EPA website will enable buyers to confidently choose a registered supplier of quality recycled aggregates.
Mr Warren Phelan, [Programme Manager of the EPA’s Circular Economy Programme] noted: “The publication of the criteria show the EPA’s commitment to streamlining the regulation of secondary products. This represents a shift away from the assessment of case-by-case applications to a national criteria available to all authorised producers. These criteria will introduce a level playing field for industry and introduce a single set of rules that are easy to implement.”
The EPA calls on industry and the waste sector to now adopt, implement and build upon the criteria established.
Further information on the national end-of-waste criteria and other initiatives of the circular economy programme are available on the EPA website HERE.
According to ‘The Economist’, latter a British weekly newspaper printed in magazine format and published digitally; Ireland is winning the EU ‘economic pentathlon’. The publication which focuses on current affairs, international business, politics, technology and culture. considers Ireland the best prepared country to face an economic downturn and best situated to drive long-term growth.
Image courtesy ‘The Economist’newspaper.
They state that European economies are in for a future troubling few years, while Germany is probably already in recession.
The European Commission is forecasting growth of just 0.8% for the EU as a whole, this year, and possibly a little more next year, 2024. Inflation is declining very slowly, which prompted the European Central Bank (ECB) to raise its rates yet again at its last September meeting. ‘The Economist’ newspaper claims that overall business confidence continues to worsen, resulting in the European Commission asking the ECB’s former boss, Mr Mario Draghi, to now come up with a plan to strengthen Europe’s economy.
Lidl the German international discount retail chain, headquartered in Neckarsulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, which operates over 12,000 stores worldwide, one of which is here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary; will shortly unveil a welcome return to what was once an old habit in Thurles Town.
The multinational shopping chain is expected to shortly unveil the introduction of reverse vending machines. Here in Thurles, following completion of work currently in progress; bottles and cans regularly dumped in hedges, ditches, along road sides or thrown over garden walls will soon become valuable commodities.
Cans, dumped by careless individuals in Thurles, soon to be worth money.
Customers may deposit their empty plastic bottles and drink cans and receive voucher credits to spend in-store, with each bottle or can deposited, earning its owner, between 10 and 15 cent per item deposited.
So the wheel, once again, comes full circle, with this situation returning to what it was in the past; returning empties for cash deposits, thus helping to tidy up our town and country landscapes.
Our congratulations to Lidl on this major initiative, which requires huge investment to introduce.
However, one wonders are we now so wealthy as adult individuals; so as to bother with garnering loose change in the form of our island’s abundant, discarded matter? Perhaps, as before, children will grab hold and take advantage of this initiative to increase their personal sweet purchasing power.
It is therefore not surprising that we watched Tipperary Co. Council ground staff, out in the middle of the storm, running sewage rods up a blocked road drainpipe, in Kickham Street, undertaking work which should have been completed during the previous summer month.
Work today (September 27th, 2023) being undertaken by Tipperary Co. Council ground staff, unblocking drains which should have been completed during the previous summer month.
It has become quite obvious to our readers that Thurles has no person taking responsibility for the overall administration of our town, over recent years, with weeds currently allowed to grow up through our footpaths, through blocked drain, with no flowerbeds and tubs planted and no potholes filled.
Nine inch high grass growing from a blocked drain on Kickham Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Yet again, we learn this morning that the promised upgrading of the necessary new drainage system and road surface on Kickham Street, east of Thurles, which was due for upgrading this month (September), has once again been postponed.
It is unlikely that Mr Joe MacGrath (Chief Executive at Tipperary County Council) who visited Thurles yesterday afternoon; drove his high powered Mercedes up to Thurles Barry’s Bridge, to view what he promised would be repaired by end of May last; a project which once again was an unattainable or fanciful hope aimed at fobbing off residents, in what is now the most neglected and mismanaged Town in Co. Tipperary. Indeed, had Mr MacGrath driven up Kickham Street, he could have viewed at firsthand the loose tarmac gravel, being ricocheted from the wheels of heavy vehicles onto the ankles of otherwise absorbed, oblivious pedestrians.
Loose tarmac gravel ricocheted from the wheels of heavy vehicle on Kickham Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
In answer to a query by Thurles.Info, sent to local elected Fianna Fáil Councillor Mr Sean Ryan, quote, “When can the residents of Kickham Street (N75) expect the road surface and drainage to be upgraded? You already stated September, but this is now unlikely. What is the delay?”
Mr Ryan quickly replied, quote: “I asked this question at the last (Council) meeting. I’m told the upgrade works for the N75 will take place in January. When I get a start date George, I’ll let you know. As you know these works will be done by the TII, (Transport Infrastructure Ireland).” Signed Sean.
Kickham Street remains the busiest main road carrying all of the heavy traffic leading west into Thurles Town and also exiting the town on to the motorway running east of Thurles. It is travelled constantly by our two inactive resident TD’s, namely Mr Michael Lowry & Mr Jackie Cahill, and was used yesterday by Minister for Education Ms Norma Foley, who arrived into Thurles to launch “Much Ado About Nothing”.
At approximately 7:00 am this morning, following very heavy rainfall, an accident has occurred on the motorway, roughly 1km from the Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny exit on the M8.
A large number of emergency service personnel, including Gardaí, Fire & Ambulance services have promptly arrived at the scene.
Motorists travelling from Thurles in the direction of Dublin are advised to divert via Two-Mile-Borris unto the old R639 road, before rejoining the motorway outside of Urlingford.
Motorists are also advised to drive with extreme caution today given forecasted heavy rainfall and poor visibility and otherwise poor driving conditions.
Traffic flow is only now beginning to move slowly forward.
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