The EMWR Plan
Eastern-Midlands Region Waste Management Plan
2015 – 2021
The generation and management of waste is an everyday challenge which the people, businesses, industry and institutions of the Eastern-Midlands Region must recognise and address. In our daily lives we produce non-hazardous, hazardous and sometimes toxic wastes. These wastes have the potential to impact negatively on our communities, our health, our environment and future generations if not managed appropriately. Effective management systems are needed to ensure that we continue to live in healthy communities and protection is afforded to our environment. In the region we have a collective responsibility to improve our behaviours in response to this ongoing problem. This is necessary if we are to rethink the waste challenge and ignite the opportunities which waste as a resource offers.
To manage our wastes in a safe and compliant manner, a clear strategy, policies and actions are required. The Waste Management Plan for the Eastern-Midlands Region is the framework for the prevention and management of wastes in a safe and sustainable manner. The scope of the waste plan is broad and ultimately it needs to provide policy direction, setting out what we want to achieve and a roadmap of actions to get us there. The waste management plan is a statutory document prepared by the local authorities of the region and it covers the period from 2015 to 2021, after which time it will be revised or replaced.
Plan Targets
Our Strategic Vision and Approach
The strategic vision of the regional waste plan is to rethink our approach to managing wastes, by viewing our waste streams as valuable material resources can lead to a healthier environment and sustainable commercial opportunities for our economy.
The Plan Performance Targets
This strategic approach is central to everything we do in supporting the implementation of the plan. In order to achieve this vision, the WMP sets out three specific and measureable performance targets. This waste plan aims to foster cooperation between the Eastern-Midlands, Southern and Connaught- Ulster Waste Regions, the DECLG, the EPA and local authorities in order to achieve these targets.
We aim to achieve a 1% reduction per annum in the quality of household waste generated per capita over the period of the Eastern Midlands Region Waste Management plan.
Reduce to 0% the direct disposal of unprocessed municipal waste to landfill (from 2016 onwards) in favour of higher value pre-treatment processes and indigenous recovery practices.
We aim to achieve a recycling rate of 50% of managed municipal waste by 2020.
Strategic Objectives
The strategic approach to this WMP incorporates well-established environmental and waste management principles. Eight overall strategic objectives have been developed for key policy areas over the 6-year duration of the plan.
Policy & Legislation
The Region will implement EU and national waste and related environmental policy. Legislation, guidance and codes of practice to improve management of material resources and wastes.
Infrastructure Planning
The Region will implement EU and national waste and related environmental.
Prevention
Prioritise waste prevention through behavioural change activities to decouple economic growth and resource use.
Enforcement & Regulation
The Region will implement a consistent and coordinated system for the regulation and enforcement of waste activities in cooperation with other environmental regulators and enforcement bodies.
Resource Efficiency
The Region will encourage the transition from a waste management economy to a green circular economy.
Protection
Apply the relevant environmental and planning legislation to waste activities to protect and reduce impacts on the environment, in particular Natura 2000 sites and human health from the adverse impact of waste generated.
Coordination
Coordinate the activities of the Regions and to relevant stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of objectives.
Other Wastes
The Region will establish policy measures for other waste streams not subject to EU and national waste management performance targets.
Annual Reports
Annual Report 2016/17
Annual Report 2015/16