Businesses and their packaging waste
The European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014 & 2022 place obligations on all businesses (referred to as Producers) that place packaging, packaging material or packaged products on the Irish market.
• All producers must separate packaging waste that arises on their premises and ensure that it is recycled or recovered by authorised operators.
• All producers must not supply packaging unless the packaging complies with the requirements of the “Essential Requirements”. The “Essential Requirements” have been designed specifically to reduce the environmental impact of packaging and to avoid over-packaging. Packaging weight and volume should be minimised to the amount needed for safety, hygiene and acceptance of the packed product. Packaging must be recoverable and be suitable for recycling, energy recovery, composting, or reuse if designed for reuse. Levels of specified noxious materials must not exceed 100 parts per million and should have minimum impact on the environment at end of life after recycling or energy recovery.
• Producers with a turnover of >€1m and that place >10 tonnes of packaging on the Irish market are classed as Major Producers and are further obligated to join Repak
MAJOR PRODUCERS
If you are a Major Producer, contact Donegal County Council and advise them of your status.
Major Producers must register with Repak, the approved Packaging Compliance Scheme in Ireland. Membership of Repak will allow you to meet your obligations under the Regulations. Registration is required annually. The contact details for Repak are as follows:
Repak Limited
Red Cow Interchange Estate
1 Ballymount Road
Clondalkin, Dublin 22
Tel: 01 - 467 0190
Web: www.repak.ie
This document provides an outline of the Regulations -it does not purport to provide a legal interpretation of the meaning or effects of the Regulations. Please revert to Irish Statute book for further details.