Central Statistics Office (CSO) – waste generation (non-EPA licenced facilities)

Key responsibilities:
Collection and processing of data on waste generated by non-EPA licensed enterprises and by quarries not reporting to EPA; estimation of waste generation for whole population of enterprises from sample data returns and EPA licensed enterprise data (including quarries reporting to EPA), contribution to quality report, transfer of datasets and quality report to Eurostat via EDAMIS.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – waste generation (EPA licenced facilities, NACE A, waste treatment facility waste, household waste) and waste treatment

Key responsibilities:
Collection and processing of waste treatment and waste treatment facility data; collection and processing of waste generation by EPA licensed enterprises (Industrial Emissions Directive (IED)/Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licences) and a number of non-EPA licensed quarries; estimation of NACE A sector waste (model), estimations of generation of secondary waste; collation of household waste generation data including an estimation of unmanaged household waste; preparation of waste treatment data table (Table 2), waste treatment facility data table (Table 3) and of part of the quality report.

CSO
Environment and Climate Division

EPA
Waste Statistics Team

CSO
Linh Nolan – Ardee Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6, D06FX52, Ireland

EPA
Deirdre French – Environmental Protection Agency, Johnstown Castle Estate, Churchtown, Wexford, Y35W821, Ireland

Generation:
The data is collected and collated in accordance with the Regulation on waste statistics (EC) No. 2150/2002, amended by Commission Regulation (EU) No. 849/2010.  Details of the data sources for waste generation are included in Section 3.1.  The information on waste generation has a breakdown by source (based on NACE classification and household activities) and by waste categories (according to the European Waste Classification (EWC) for statistical purposes).  All values are provided in tonnes.

Treatment:
The data is collected and collated in accordance with the Regulation on waste statistics (EC) No. 2150/2002, amended by Commission Regulation (EU) No. 849/2010.  Details of the data sources for waste treatment are included in Section 3.1.  The information on waste treatment is broken down to five treatment types (recovery, incineration with energy recovery, other incineration, disposal on land and land treatment) and by waste categories. All values are provided in tonnes.

As per regulation, three data tables are provided:

Table 1. Waste Generation: The waste generation dataset is classified by the European Waste Classification (EWC Stat) categories and sources are defined by the NACE Rev.2 categorisation. 

Table 2. Waste Treatment: The waste treatment dataset is classified by the European Waste Classification (EWC Stat) categories and treatment operations are as defined in Directive 2008/98/EC.

Table 3. Waste Treatment Facilities: The waste treatment facilities dataset is classified by the number of facilities, capacity, the treatment operations (as defined in Directive 2008/98/EC) and the NUTS 2 regions.

Generation: Waste generated by all economic activities (NACE Codes) and households.

Treatment: Waste treatment includes data for final treatment only.

As defined by Regulation on Waste Statistics (EC) No. 2150/2002, amended by Commission Regulation (EU) No. 849/2010.

A. Waste generation:

  1) CSO Waste Generation Survey data: enterprises

  2) EPA data: licensed enterprises under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) Licensing, quarries, households

B. Waste treatment data: treatment facilities

C. The units used for reporting are as follows:

1. Weight reported in tonnes
2. Waste economic sector origin reported by NACE code
3. Waste classification origin reported in European Waste Classification (EWC Stat)
4. Waste treatment location reported in NUTS2 (IE04, IE05 or IE06)

Generation: The statistical population was all waste generated in the Republic of Ireland.

Treatment: The statistical population was all waste finally treated in the Republic of Ireland.

Generation: The reference area for the waste generation dataset is the Republic of Ireland.

Treatment: The reference area for the waste treatment dataset is the Republic of Ireland which is broken down into the NUTS regions (IE04, IE05 and IE06) for the waste treatment capacity and waste treatment facilities numbers data.

Reference year: 2020

Not applicable.

Generation:

Table 1 data was collated from a number of sources, as described below:

• Data returns from the CSO Waste Generation Survey for non-EPA licensed enterprises.

• Data reported through Environmental Performance Reporting (EPR – see Additional Notes below) by EPA licensed enterprises and a number of quarries: in 2020, all EPA licensed enterprises, whether they were obligated under PRTR or not, reported waste data via the EPA EPR system. In addition to EPA licensed enterprises, the EPR system was also used to collect waste information on quarries obligated under PRTR. Thus for the purposes of this quality report, the term ‘EPA licensed enterprises‘ includes the PRTR obligated quarries.

• Waste collection and facility permit annual data reported to the National Waste Collection Permit Office (NWCPO).

• NACE 37 sewage sludge data from urban wastewater treatment regulation reporting.

• Household data: Waste collection permit annual data reported to NWCPO; data from EPA waste statistics survey of local authorities, provide information on household waste brought to waste infrastructure such as civic amenity sites, bring banks and Pay to Use (PTU) compactors; data from producer responsibility initiative compliance schemes provide information on household WEEE and portable batteries brought for treatment; data from Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATF) estimate End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) arising from households.

• Data models estimate information on NACE A. For these models data was used from the following organisations/sources:

• • EPA
  • CSO
  • Teagasc
  • Farmplastics.ie
  • UK Agricultural Supply Trade Association
  • Nix Farm pocketbook 2006
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, UK
  • Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency, UK
  • Department of Transport
  • Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
  • Veterinary Medicines Department and Irish Medicines Board
  • RPS Consultants
  • SHAWG.org.uk
  • Pig Progress.net
  • Scottish Government
  • AEA.uk.com
  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland)
  • Welsh Government, Knowledge and Analytical Services
  • The Scottish Government, Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services

Treatment:

The main data sources used in compiling the information presented in Tables 2 and 3 are:

• EPR
• Waste collection and facility permit annual data reported to NWCPO.
• Administrative data on urban wastewater treatment sludges, provided to EPA by Irish Water.
• Enterprise surveys (biennial survey for the purpose of Waste Statistics Regulation reporting):
   o IED/IPC-licensees (large scale industrial activities) – PRTR/EPR returns (administrative data);
   o Sample survey of non-EPA licensed companies carried out by CSO.

The number and types of facilities to be reported in Table 3 are estimated by pin-pointing the facilities that carry out final recovery and disposal in IE in the waste treatment surveys carried out by EPA waste statistics, in information submitted by the local authorities to EPA waste statistics and urban wastewater treatment reporting, in EPR and NWCPO data, and in the CSO Waste Generation Survey information.

Generation and Treatment: Data are collected on a biennial basis for Waste Statistic Reporting.

GENERATION:

CSO Waste Generation Survey Data

Survey returns were checked to ensure response data was read in correctly through SAS processing programs and visual inspection.

• Survey returns were checked for missing waste codes (i.e. amount and description of waste indicated in return but no waste code information). For missing codes, where possible, the most appropriate code was identified based on waste description and then inserted into the source survey returns file.

• Data that appeared incorrect (e.g. too high) were compared with data from previous surveys if available and/or to similar types (e.g. enterprise in same NACE and similar employee figures) and adjusted accordingly. For some of these situations, returns were also checked for the correct reporting unit (tonnes instead of kilograms or litres).

EPA Data

Desktop validation of EPR returns was carried out by the EPA’s PRTR team, the EPA waste statistics team and the CSO environment team.  Furthermore, the NWCPO data is validated by Local Authority staff and the EPA.  

As detailed in section 6.3 below, the following validation exercises were completed:

• Desktop validation of EPR returns was carried out by the EPA’s PRTR team, the EPA waste statistics team and the CSO environment team.  Any inconsistencies and coding errors (e.g. type of treatment, quantities, LoW entries) were corrected. 
• Data for each waste class were interrogated to identify unlikely tonnages reported. These tonnages were queried and either confirmed or corrected.
• Data on local authority permitted waste facilities were validated by regional and local authorities and by EPA waste statistics.
• Data is compared with previous years at both return level and aggregate level.
• The NACE codes for the waste generation by enterprises were taken from EPR or CSO business register. Only the main NACE code was considered for each enterprise.
• LoW entries were used in EPR/NWCPO return, and these entries were converted to EWC-Stat classifications. Coding errors detected during validation of the surveys were corrected.
• The data on waste household kerbside collections and bulky (skip) waste collections were gathered by NWCPO and validated by regional and local authorities and EPA waste statistics. The EPA validated the local authority survey data regarding waste accepted at civic amenity sites, bring banks and PTU compactors when received.
• No data verification site visits were carried out due to the Covid-19 pandemic

Generation:

To obtain national waste generation, data from the CSO Waste Generation Survey and EPA licenced facilities were combined. The returns were then weighted to the CSO Business Register. Non-responses were corrected though higher weighting factors. The EPA also provided waste generation data for NACE A, 38, 46.77 and Households. (See section 3.3)

For reporting, the waste generation data LoW codes were converted into the EWC Stat 2 codes.  The waste quantities were then reported under the relevant NACE codes. Where particular EWC Stat 2 codes required conversion to dry weight, this was completed during the compilation stage.

Treatment:

Once the data was collected (as per section 3.3), the waste treatment data LoW codes were converted into the EWC Stat 2 codes.  The waste quantities were then reported under the relevant recovery or disposal codes.  For the facility and capacity data, each facility was assigned its relevant NUTS 2 code and were required the capacity quantities were also assigned for reporting under the NUTS 2 code.

No adjustments were made to the data other than the conversions of sludges to dry weight as required under the Regulation.  Where a dry weight was provided by a facility the dry weight was reported, otherwise conversions were applied as per the Regulation.

CSO

The CSO avails of an office wide Quality Management Framework (QMF). This framework allows all CSO processes and outputs to meet the required standard as set out in the European Statistics Code of Practice (ESCOP). The QMF foundations are based on establishing the UNECE’s Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM) as the operating statistical production model to achieve a standardised approach to Quality Management. All and any changes implemented to CSO processes and outputs require adherence to the QMF.

Where possible, enterprise information (e.g. NACE, employee numbers) were cross-checked between EPA returns data and the Business Register.

Aggregated waste tonnage figures were also compared with data from NWCPO.

Various data checks were performed throughout all stages of the data collection and analysis process.

EPA

Across all data flows, the EPA has a strong commitment to data quality in all teams and a strong ethos of applying rigorous validation and verification to data to ensure accuracy. In 2018, the EPA established a small data analytics team to champion the use of data science, spatial analysis, earth observation and data visualisation techniques, working in close collaboration with EPA subject matter experts.

Extending from and ongoing memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the CSO, the EPA secured a seconded statistician post in 2019, expanding its capacity for systematic data quality management.  This position has facilitated increased co-ordination between both organisations, including representation at the Formal Statistical Liaison Group, access to data quality management training provided by the CSO and the European Statistical Training Programme, and engagement with the National Data Infrastructure champions group.

Furthermore, the EPA took part in a Eurostat Peer Review in 2022.  Positive feedback was received from Eurostat on this Peer Review and a link to the report can be found in Section 4.2.

Therefore, as an Agency, the EPA is rigorous in data validation but it is evident that this is impacting on other dimensions of data quality such as cost effectiveness and timeliness. It is challenging to evidence decisions underpinning trade-offs across dimensions of data quality in the absence of systematic approaches to measuring the quality of statistical processes and products. In addition, data quality management is particularly challenging when dependent on data from external organisations where the Agency has limited input on the processes producing these data and therefore requires the carrying out of additional secondary validation and cross-checking by the EPA to ensure data quality. In 2021 the EPA Waste Statistics Team established an EPA-led network of public bodies involved in waste data collection, processing and reporting to address shortcomings and inefficiencies in the current regime in a coordinated way and drive improvements in the accuracy, timeliness and relevance of waste data. At the institutional level, the Agency would benefit from establishing a panel of data owners who will work together to advance data governance, a data management framework and data quality policies and processes within the organisation.

 EPA

In 2022, the EPA received certification with the Irish Statistical System Code of Practice (ISSCoP) and the European Statistical Code of Practice (ES CoP) for reporting on the Joint OECD Eurostat Municipal Waste Indicator.

The results of the 2022 Eurostat Peer Review can be found at: https://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/aboutus-new/legislationgovernancedatapolicies/externalgovernance/europeanstatisticalsystem/Peer_Review_report_Ireland_2022.pdf

CSO

The Waste Generation Survey was carried out to fulfil Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2002 on waste statistics.

The survey will also be useful in providing data on food waste. Beginning in mid-2022, EU Member States are required to report data on food waste generated as according to methodologies and formats indicated in:

(a) Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/1597 of 3 May 2019 supplementing Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and;

(b) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/2000 of 28 November 2019 laying down a format for reporting of data on food waste and for submission of the quality check report in accordance with Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.

EPA

It is a strategic priority for the EPA to ensure that our data and information outputs are timely, relevant and accessible to our stakeholders. The EPA’s Strategic Plan 2022-2026 includes a deliverable for 2026 that ‘We will be using innovative and accessible ways to deliver timely and targeted data and information to meet’. This deliverable is reflected in and integrated throughout the EPA’s annual work programme which is aligned with the EPA’s Strategic Plan.

Specifically, with regards to delivering on the priority needs of our stakeholders in the waste sector, the annual work programme sets out clear tasks and key performance indicators for the Waste Statistics Team directly linked to the EPA’s strategic goals and outcomes; these include a commitment to fulfil all statutory EU reporting requirements and to deliver strong, effective and timely communication of waste data and associated evidence-based messages through a range of channels. Internal and external user needs are routinely taken into account by EPA management when developing the annual work programme and the accompanying communications plan for the year. This is reflected in decisions around the content of waste data releases and communication channels used. Examples of concerted user-focused commitments in the 2022 Work Programme include the publication of the national waste statistics summary report and the provision of more timely waste indicator data for national policy planning and evaluation purposes. The EPA’s longstanding active engagement in a wide range of national steering committees, working groups and industry fora serve to provide EPA managers with a good understanding and appreciation of the emerging needs of our stakeholders, while the newly-established EPA-led network of waste data authorities will provide a dedicated forum for two-way communication and obtaining feedback on the relevance and value of the EPA’s existing waste statistics outputs and evolving needs and priorities. The overarching goal of the network is to enhance the timeliness and relevance of national waste data outputs. Priority needs at national level are defined and documented in the Oversight and Performance Delivery Agreement between the EPA and DECC and in turn reflected in the EPA Work Programme.

The Waste Statistics Team carried out extensive stakeholder consultation during the period 2015- 2017, to help inform the original development of the EPA Waste Statistics website. A survey was carried out in 2015 to seek stakeholder feedback on the format, structure and content of EPA waste data publications and the mode of data releases. Stakeholders included in the survey were Eurostat, Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), other teams in the EPA, National Waste Collectors Permit Office (NWCPO), National Transfrontier Shipment Office (NTFSO), Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities, Local Authorities, Non-Governmental Organisations, Consultants, Researchers, and the general public

In 2016/2017 the Waste Statistics Team met with key stakeholders, including DECC, the Irish Waste Management Association, the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices, the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities, the NWCPO and RPS Consulting, as well as EPA staff from various offices working in the waste area. The EPA Board of Directors also provided feedback on the content and structure of waste data releases.

To address this feedback, the Waste Statistics Team developed an approach centred on a “live” Electronic Waste Report at: https://www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/waste/national-waste-statistics/. The landing page presents waste sector-specific links that provide the latest available data and interpretive text updated on a periodic basis and time-stamped. This includes ‘First Look’ data from administrative data sources or subsets of EPA waste statistics data that, due to reduced scope, can be validated more quickly than fully processed survey data produced to meet legislative requirements. Web traffic to these pages is routinely monitored via Google Analytics and monthly reports are made available by the Communications Unit.

In addition, in direct response to feedback received from policy makers and industry stakeholders, in September 2020 the Waste Statistics Team publishs the National Waste Statistics Summary Reports on an annual basis.  These are annual synthesis reports focused on drawing together the data and key messages from the multiple web data releases. The publication of these reports are accompanied by a press release highlighting the key findings.

Resources have also been allocated to developing other synthesis outputs including infographics, factsheets and videos to capture key policy-relevant trends and effectively communicate relevant messages to policy-makers and a wider audience. All outputs are published on the Publication section of the EPA’s National Waste Statistics web resource, making them easily and freely accessible.

The Waste Statistics Team has also made significant strides in recent years to make greater use of digital and social media to meet the needs of a wider audience. In addition to our traditional press releases, our waste data releases are now routinely accompanied by a series of tailored social media messages and 2-3 minute videos on the EPA’s Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts with relevant stakeholders tagged in maximise reach.

The ‘Contact Us’ section of the EPA website contains a query form that allows website users to submit queries and provide feedback, including feedback on the new EPA website. Following on from the redevelopment of the EPA website, external assessments are planned to assess overall user satisfaction and accessibility.

In terms of delivering on the priority needs of our stakeholders in the waste sector, these needs are integrated into the EPA’s annual work programme which is aligned with the EPA’s Strategic Plan and in particular the strategic 2026 deliverable ‘We will be using innovative and accessible ways to deliver timely and targeted data and information to meet’. The annual work programme sets out clear tasks and key performance indicators for the Waste Statistics Team linked to the EPA’s strategic goals and outcomes; these include a commitment to fulfil all statutory EU reporting requirements and to deliver strong, effective and timely communication of waste data and associated evidence-based messages through a range of channels. The EPA’s active engagement in a wide range of national steering committees, working groups and industry for a, as well as regular one-to-one meetings with DECC, provides the Waste Statistics Team with a good understanding and appreciation of the evolving needs of our stakeholders. External user needs are actively taken into account by EPA management when developing the annual work programme and the accompanying communications plan for the year.  This is reflected in decisions around the content of waste data releases and the annual waste summary report and the respective communication channels used. Examples of concerted user-focused commitments in the 2022 Work Programme include the publication of the National Waste Statistics Summary Report and the provision of more timely waste indicator data for national policy planning and evaluation purposes. Priority needs at national level are defined and documented in the Oversight and Performance Delivery Agreement between the EPA and DECC and in turn reflected in the EPA Work Programme.

No official user satisfaction survey was conducted. However Eurostat is regularly in contact with any queries or feedback.

For EPA, as previously stated the Waste Statistics team is continuously seeking and addressing feedback from data users. Furthermore, the Waste Statistics Team is continuously adapting its data collection and processing, specifically for Waste Statistics Regulation. The EPA waste statistics team is also aware of differences between legislative reporting obligations such as not including C&D waste or ELVs in municipal household waste but counting them as household waste generated for Waste Statistics Regulation.

The data tables submitted to Eurostat were fully completed.

The data tables submitted to Eurostat were fully completed.

Generation:

As indicated in section 3.5, the CSO Waste Generation Survey was a sample survey which included 5929 enterprises. The response rate was approximately 40%. To obtain national waste generation for the non-domestic sector, responses from the survey were combined with EPA licensed facilities data and then weighted to the CSO Business Register. There is a possibility that national data may not be complete due to respondents not reporting all waste items in their returns. Completeness may also be a risk if the responses received are not representative of the non-domestic sector at national level. The CSO attempted to minimize this risk by assigning weighting factors accordingly.

The drinking water sludge data included in the waste generation data is incomplete. It is planned to improve the reporting of drinking water sludges generation by engaging with Irish Water further to obtain drinking water sludge data.

Treatment:

For data on sludges from NACE 36, only a proportion of the drinking water treatment sludges generated were transferred to the waste treatment network.

Also, for CSO enterprise data for 2020 was not included. Further, analysis will be carried out on this data before the 2022 reporting to confirm its accuracy.

The Waste Statistics Team has an almost complete coverage of final waste treatment in Ireland (census information).

Additional notes:

The EPA Waste Statistics Team is strongly committed to presenting an accurate picture of national waste generation and treatment in Ireland. By using appropriate methodologies in combination with rigorous validation processes, the reported data are as close as possible to the real values.

Most EPA data included reported in the Waste Statistics Regulation tables arise from EPA-licenced and Local Authority-permitted waste facilities data and surveys of Local Authorities themselves.

In line with CSO Quality Standards and Guidelines for data collection and processing, internal consistency checks are conducted through reference with previous reported periods and external consistency checks are based collectors’ data from the NWCPO.

In addition, for EPR returns, the Waste Statistics team responds to licensed operators’ queries sent to a dedicated email or received via phone and provides ongoing advice and assistance to operators in completing the return. The team persistently follows up with non-respondents until a completed survey is received, involving the relevant EPA Enforcement Inspectors for non-responding facilities where appropriate. On the rare occasions when companies fail to respond, the Waste Statistics Team either carries out a site visit and obtains the required data on-site (which didn’t happen for 2020 data due to the Covid 19 pandemic) or alternatively uses data from external sources to approximate the non-respondent facility’s waste activities.

For the CSO Waste Generation Survey:
• A sampling plan was used which intended to capture data representative of national data (see section 6.3.1)
• In generating the sample, enterprises which reported high volumes of waste in WGS 2018 were included to ensure capture of this data.
• Efforts were made to maximise responses from enterprises by way of multiple reminders and finding alternate contact information where original contact information was incorrect or no longer active.

No sample surveys were carried out for waste generation by NACE A, 37, 38 and 46.77, for waste generation by households, and for waste treatment. Sampling errors were therefore not assessed for waste generation or treatment by these NACE Rev 2 sectors.

To be reviewed.

See sections 6.3.1-6.3.5.

Generation:

CSO

For the CSO Waste Generation Survey, to minimise coverage error, the following sampling design was used:

 • Sampling frame used was the business register

• Seven strata were used to select the sample from the frame. The strata were based on number of employees.

• Additionally, enterprises from the 2020 WGS with high volumes of waste were included in the sample.

EPA

Household waste: Most waste operators use customer registers to identify waste from households. The amount of commercial waste contained in the household waste reported is therefore likely to be negligible. However, it has been our experience that household waste arising from apartment blocks may wrongly be classified as commercial waste by the waste operators due to the size of the bins collected and/or their ‘customer’ being a property management company rather than the individual apartment dwellers. Efforts are being made to improve this aspect of reporting year on year, which will impact on reporting of quantity of household waste collected and percentage coverage of the collection service.

By-products: Article 27 of the European Communities (Waste Directive) Regulations, 2011 allows an economic operator to decide, under certain circumstances, that a material is a by-product and not a waste. Decisions made by economic operators under article 27 in IE, must be notified to the EPA. After consultation with the economic operator and the relevant local authority, the EPA may determine whether or not the notified material is waste.

In 2020, the EPA received by-product notifications for 3,217,523 tonnes of soil and stone material. Notifications for 155,200 tonnes were withdrawn. The EPA determined that 1,374,575 tonnes of the soil and stone notified were by-product and that 73,000 were waste. The estimated quantity of soil and stone material notified in 2020 for which no determination was made to date, amounted to 1,614,748 tonnes.

 It is important to note that by-product notifications do not necessarily mean that the material was generated or indeed moved. Economic operators may not have proceeded with the activities related to the by-product notifications.

However, if they did proceed, the materials would not have entered the waste management network. This means that the tonnages involved are not included in the 2020 waste statistics data.

Treatment:

The EPA waste statistics team receives EPR data from facilities authorised to treat waste most licensed and some permitted waste activities. Data from facilities that are not surveyed by EPA waste statistics are taken from annual returns (ARs).

Please note that facilities that carried out several categories of final treatment operations listed in dataset three (e.g. backfilling and recycling), are counted under each relevant category.

The Waste Statistics Team has an almost complete coverage of final waste treatment in Ireland (census information).

Generation:
Not calculated - to be reviewed.

Treatment:
To ensure there is no double counting, final treatment is only counted at the final step of the waste treatment process.  Also, when using multiple data sources, the Waste Statistics Team cross checks the data sources to ensure there is no overlap in data and deducts any quantities that are already reported.

To be reviewed.

Survey returns were received for the waste generated by enterprises dataset (CSO Waste Generation Survey and EPR).  A questionnaire and administrative data for the waste generated by households dataset (NWCPO, EPR and EPA waste statistics local authority surveys).  Waste treatment was mainly based on administrative data.

CSO

For the CSO Waste Generation Survey, to minimize measurement errors, a survey booklet with definitions and instructions were provided along with a helpdesk telephone number and email address. The CSO received many queries regarding identification of waste codes and estimating weights of waste generated.

EPA

In the EPA waste statistics returns, facility operators are asked to give the methods used to quantify the tonnages reported (i.e. weighbridge, estimate or other). Most waste facilities have a weighbridge, and generally waste in storage is estimated. The operators with weighbridges use weighbridge software reports to extract the data needed for the EPA waste statistics return. An automated mass balance is included in the waste treatment surveys and >5% difference between inputs and outputs (having consideration of waste in storage) are queried.

Each waste stream accepted at a facility is given an ID number. For each waste stream finally treated or transferred offsite, the ID number(s) of the waste accepted entries contributing to the finally treated or sent offsite entry is/are quoted. This allows the EPA waste statistics team to follow the flows of waste through each waste facility and determine whether or not the picture painted is plausible.

As in other years, any inconsistencies and suspect tonnages were queried with the waste treatment operators (e.g. appears to be kg instead of tonnes). Tonnages treated were compared with the previous year’s return. Each significant increase/decrease was queried with the operator to see if there was a genuine reason for the difference or if it was a measurement error. Some of the waste transfers are cross-checked (if company x reported sending waste to company y, does company y report on that waste?) to ensure measurement errors are minimised. However, the fact that there are often several movements of waste from the point of collection to the point of final treatment has the potential to introduce measurement errors (e.g. residual waste collected at kerbside is brought to a waste transfer station for bulking or baling, and then to a landfill for disposal or to another facility for further processing).

Generation:
For the 2020 CSO Waste Generation Survey, the response rate was approximately 40%. Possible reasons for non-responses include:
(a) Failed email addresses for enterprise and therefore the survey never reached the enterprise
(b) Company had ceased trading
(c) Company encountered difficulties in providing the data or refused to respond

Unit non-responses were accounted for in the weighting process.

Treatment:
N/A

Generation
For the 2020 CSO Waste Generation Survey, it is probable that not every waste item was reported by each enterprise. Aggregated tonnage figures at waste item level were compared to previous surveys.

Treatment
N/A

Returns were received for the waste generated by enterprises dataset (CSO Waste Generation Survey, EPR and NWCPO data), for the waste generated by households dataset (EPR and NWCPO) and for the waste treatment dataset.

For the CSO Waste Generation Survey, the following measures were taken:
(a) Data capture errors: prior to the launch of the survey, testing was performed to ensure that data were accurately recorded through the eForm system. After survey launch, the returns data file was regularly read into data analysis programs as well as visually inspected to ensure data was being captured correctly.
(b) Data editing: comparisons were made with previous years’ data and checked for consistency; high or odd figures were extracted for closer review; duplicate responses were also checked for and removed during the processing phase.

The majority of EPA data is captured in two online reporting systems (EPR and NWCPO). The data from these systems is exported into excel files for final use.

Desktop validation of EPR returns was carried out by the EPA’s PRTR team, the EPA waste statistics team and the CSO environment team. No data verification site visits were carried out due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Data for each waste class were interrogated to identify unlikely tonnages reported. These tonnages were queried and either confirmed or corrected.

Data on local authority permitted waste facilities were validated by regional and local authorities and by EPA waste statistics.

The NACE codes for the waste generation by enterprises were taken from EPR or CSO business register. Only the main NACE code was considered for each enterprise.

LoW entries were used in EPR/NWCPO return, and these entries were converted to EWC-Stat classifications. Coding errors detected during validation of the surveys were corrected.

The data on waste household kerbside collections and bulky (skip) waste collections were gathered by NWCPO and validated by regional and local authorities and EPA waste statistics. The EPA validated the local authority survey data regarding waste accepted at civic amenity sites, bring banks and PTU compactors when received.

Generation:
Not calculated – to be reviewed.

Treatment:
N/A

6.3.5. Model assumption error

Generation:

Models were used to estimate waste generation by NACE A. The models derive an estimate of non-natural waste generated for each unit (or area) of production. As previously stated, the waste models were developed by the EA (England and Wales), SEPA, and NIEA for:
1. Wastes which were not collected during the pilot farm hazardous waste scheme, or
2. Wastes where no information exists on a national basis to derive waste estimates by applying relevant per unit waste ratios to Irish data.

The model assumptions and methodologies are summarised below:
• Farm plastics by polymer type: Irish Farm Film Producers Group (IFFPG) research and farm plastics collection and recycling service
• Agrochemical packaging, animal feed bags and Animal health products packaging: U.K. model unit weight estimate applied to CSO Crop and Livestock Survey 2020 (Non calendar year-reported June to June.)
• Batteries: Used information gathered from the FHW Collection campaign 2017 & used FHW Collection campaign (2014) to apportion battery waste from WEEE waste (29%) as batteries were not recorded specifically reported outside of WEEE and then applied to CSO Farm Structure Survey 2016
• CFC’s: Used information gathered from the FHW Collection campaign applied to CSO Farm Structure Survey 2020 and U.K. model unit weight estimates for CFC containing equipment applied to CSO Crop and Livestock Survey 2018 (Non calendar year-reported June to June).
• Machinery Waste: U.K. model assumption, i.e., new sales = wastage+ exports. Applied to new tractor sales given in Irish Bulletin of Vehicle and Driver Statistics Bulletin, 2019.
• Milk waste: U.K. model unit weight waste estimated applied to CSO 2020 dairy cow numbers and 2007 Farm Structure Survey replacement rates.
• Waste oil: Used information gathered from the Irish FHW collection campaign and CSO Farm Structure survey 2016 to derive national estimates of wastes generated.
• Seed bags: U.K. model unit weight estimate used and applied to CSO Crop & Livestock survey 2020 (Non calendar year- reported June to June). Used relevant national expert advice to determine reseeding rates for grassland.
• Sheep dip: Used average quantity of sheep dip product placed on markets from 2009-12 and applied dilution and uptake factors to derive spent sheep dip.
• Tyres: U.K. model unit weight waste estimate used and applied to tractor numbers registered in 2019 and to scrapped tractor numbers estimated from new sales.
• Oil filters, paint, varnish, adhesive wastes, veterinary medicine wastes, corrosives, and pesticides: Used information gathered from the Irish FHW collection campaign and CSO Farm Structure survey 2016 to derive national estimates of wastes generated.
• Aerosol cans used for animal health: Used information gathered from the Irish FHW collection campaign 2014 (last year aerosols were reported as a waste line item) to provide approximate proportion of Aerosols within farmer’s waste before being applied to CSO Farm Structure survey 2018 to derive national estimates of wastes generated.
• Cattle, Pig and Sheep Mortality: Used information from multiple sources highlighted above to ascertain sheep mortality rate among the general population and applied average weight per animal to estimate waste

However, no quantitative error calculations or sensitivity analyses were carried out.

Treatment: No models were used in generating the waste treatment data.

Not applicable.

All data submitted to Eurostat is intended to be final data. Where errors are later identified in the data Eurostat will be notified and updates of the data will be submitted via eDAMIS.

Not applicable.

Target delivery to Eurostat is within 18 months after the end of the reference period.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Generation: The Waste Generation data was submitted to Eurostat in September 2022.

Treatment: The Waste Treatment data was submitted to Eurostat in October 2022.

The Quality report was submitted to Eurostat in December 2022.

The delay in reporting was due to a number of factors including other limited resources, new staff, covid illnesses and other unforeseen circumstances. Measures have been put in place to avoid any delays in future reporting.

Generation: The waste generation data was submitted 2.5 months after the deadline.

Treatment: The waste treatment data was submitted almost 4 months after the deadline.

Generation:  Waste generation data is produced on a national level.

Treatment: Waste treatment data is produced on a national level for the overall treatment quantities. Waste facility numbers and capacity data are reported at a NUTS 2 level.

The data reported to Eurostat in the Waste Statistics Regulation draws on the same pool of data used in national reporting. Data from other EU member states are published on the Eurostat website and can be used for comparison. However methodologies are likely to differ between countries.

To be reviewed.

All data are cross-checked with previous years at micro and aggregate level. Any method changes are included in the relevant quality reports.

Generation:
The amount of waste generated in Ireland increased by approximately 2.2 million tonnes from 2018 (13,986,757 tonnes) to 2020 (16,192,033 tonnes).

Note that there was a large increase in waste generation for NACE F. This was due primarily to two large enterprises that showed an increase in their waste generation for 2020 (as reported in the CSO Waste Generation Survey). Additionally, figures for 2018 may have been underestimated for this sector. The CSO will continue to look further into this and make amendments if required.

Treatment:
All data are cross-checked with previous years at micro and aggregate level. Any method changes are included in the relevant quality reports.The amount of waste treated in Ireland increased by 1.82 million tonnes from 2018 (12,260,094 tonnes) to 2020 (14,082,676).

Waste Statistics Regulation data for Ireland are available on the Eurostat website for years dating back to 2004. In general, the data are comparable with previous years. Any changes to the data (collection, compilation, refinement) would be explained in the relevant quality reports.

Note that in 2012, the responsibility of the waste generation survey of Irish businesses was transferred from the EPA to the CSO.

Waste treatment data remains the responsibility of the EPA.

The data reported to Eurostat in the Waste Statistics Regulation draws on the same pool of data used in national reporting on waste. Therefore the data is to a high degree reflective of waste statistics produced in IE for other statistical reporting regimes for the same time period.

Additionally, the use of statistical units and the NACE classification of economic activities makes the waste domain coherent with economic statistics. This allows the computation of indicators based on economic variables. 

However, for the Regulation waste is reported by EWC Stat code, therefore, the waste data is reported in a more general material-oriented nomenclature.  All other waste reporting is reported by the source and material-based List of Waste (LoW) code classification system.

Furthermore, there are a number of differences in what should be included under specific waste definitions between the Waste Statistics Regulation and the Waste Framework Directive (WFD).  For example, ELVs are not considered household waste for WFD but are for Waste Statistics Regulation.  Also, the animal by-products sent for animal feed are not considered a waste under WFD but are still reportable under Waste Statistics Regulation. These differences should be taken into account when comparing data sets across domains.

Not applicable.

To be reviewed.

Generation and Treatment

The waste generation data is to a high degree internally coherent (totals are equal to the sum of the breakdowns). Additionally, the Eurostat file for provision of data ensured that totals were equivalent to the sum of the individual components.

Not applicable.

Eurostat waste statistics database:
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/waste/data/database

The EPA also publishes waste statistics for IE on the following website:
https://www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/waste/national-waste-statistics/

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

A Quality Report is submitted to Eurostat as required. This report contains information on methodology.

Additionally the Manual for the Implementation of Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 on Waste Statistics (Draft March 2022) was consulted on an ongoing basis during the data validation, compilation and reporting process.
(Eurostat waste statistics manual: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-manuals-and-guidelines/-/KS-RA-13-015)

The EPA is also currently in the process of refining its internal procedure for the gathering and compilation of data for the Waste Statistics Regulation to ensure even further accuracy and consistency when reporting the data. The EPA is also in the process of documenting an internal Waste Statistics Regulation standard operating procedure (SOP) and process maps to assist with future reporting.

A Quality Report is submitted to Eurostat as required. This report contains information on quality management.

The EPA is also in the process of documenting an internal Waste Statistics Regulation standard operating procedure (SOP) and process maps to assist with future reporting.

Not calculated - to be reviewed.

To be reviewed.

Generation:

A query was included in the CSO Waste Generation Survey requesting respondents to indicate the time required to complete the survey. Based on responses to this query, the average completion time was approximately 37 minutes. However note that this does not include the time taken to gather information but rather to complete the survey form itself. The actual time to gather information for the survey and complete it online is likely much longer. To assist respondents, dedicated staff was available to manage a telephone helpline and email inbox specifically set up for the survey. A manual was also provided. Many respondents contacted the CSO by both telephone and email with queries. The most frequent queries related to identifying waste codes and estimating weights of waste generated.

Treatment:

As previously stated, one of the main administrative sources of data for waste treatment is from EPR. Through EPR, respondents provide data in relation to licence compliance, PRTR etc, (i.e. not just data for the purposes of Wasta Statistic Regulation). Therefore, it is not possible to specifically identify the burden for Waste Statistics Regulation reporting.

To support respondents to complete the administrative data the following measures have been put in place:
• A telephone helpline was provided for the respondents to all surveys;
• Guidance manuals were provided online where possible;
• A new EPR system was developed which integrates a number of compulsory surveys that would have previously been required to be completed separately and in addition their Annual Environmental Return requirements; and
• Improvements were made to the NWCPO portal, which now integrates surveys such as the Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) survey.

CSO

All information supplied to the CSO is treated as strictly confidential in accordance with Section 33 of the Statistics Act, 1993, and will be used for statistical purposes only. Aggregate data will be made available to Eurostat to meet the requirements of Regulation (EC) No. 2150/2002.

We will retain the survey data indefinitely as one of the purposes of the data collection is to obtain longitudinal information on waste generation by Irish businesses.

EPA

The EPA has a confidentiality statement in place for the use of Official European Waste Statistics, which was published on 10th November 2021. The confidentiality statement can be found on the EPA website at the following page: https://www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/waste/national-waste-statistics/about-our-waste-statistics/confidentiality-statement/

CSO

Individual company data are held confidentially. Repondents were also provided with a link to the Data Protection Transparency Notice (https://www.cso.ie/en/methods/tn/wastegenerationsurvey/) when completing the survey. Reporting of data is aggregated to national level by EWC-Stat code for waste items and NACE Rev 2 for economic activities. See also section 11.1.

EPA

The majority of waste data collected by the EPA for European and national reporting purposes are not collected primarily or exclusively for waste statistics purposes but under licence compliance and other European reporting purposes such as the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) Regulations 2007 and 2011.

Where specific subsets of EPA licensee data or waste data from other third-parties are collected and used solely for statistical reporting purposes, the EPA Waste Statistics Team applies strict statistical confidentiality provisions to these data. Results are published in aggregated form and measures are taken to ensure that details relating to an identifiable person or enterprise are not inadvertently divulged.

Individual company information is only reported if it relates to data that are already publicly available (e.g. for EPA licensed companies, summary waste management information in the AER is publicly available on EPA website, as required by condition of the licence).

None.