What we do
The Eastern-Midlands Waste Region (EMWR) is one of Ireland’s three waste management regions. The EMWR spans an area equal to one fifth the total area of the country and serves approximately half the national population, over 2.2 million people. The urban/rural population split in 81%/19%, however in some local authority areas within the region there are more rural than urban residents (eg. Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath).
The region consists of 12 local authority regions
- Dublin City
- Fingal
- Dublin South
- Dún-Laoghaire Rathdown
- Kildare
- Laois
- Longford
- Louth
- Meath
- Offaly
- Westmeath
- Wicklow
- Dublin City
- Fingal
- Dublin South
- Dún-Laoghaire Rathdown
- Kildare
- Laois
- Longford
- Louth
- Meath
- Offaly
- Westmeath
- Wicklow
The latest waste figures (collated in 2012) for the region shows that 681,449 tonnes of household waste and 568,873 tonnes of commercial waste are produced annually. In addition to this, significant volumes of waste are produced in a range of other waste streams, such as construction and demolition (C&D) waste, electronic and electrical waste (WEEE), healthcare waste, agricultural waste, industrial waste and various hazardous wastes.
The framework for the prevention and management of waste is set out in the Waste Management Plan, a statutory document underpinned by national and EU waste legislation. The responsibility for implementing the Plan in this region is the Eastern-Midlands Waste Regional Office (EMWRO) and the region’s constituent local authorities. The EMWRO is situated in Dublin City Council, the lead authority for the region.
The role of the EMWRO
As the Eastern Midlands Waste Regional Office (EMWRO), we are responsible for the implementation of the region’s Waste Management Plan. This plan is underpinned by National and European waste legislation and our work will ensure the continued management of waste in a safe and sustainable manner. The EMWRO is managed by Dublin City Council, as the lead authority for the waste region. Our role includes the following:
As the Eastern Midlands Waste Regional Office (EMWRO), we are responsible for the implementation of the region’s Waste Management Plan. This plan is underpinned by National and European waste legislation and our work will ensure the continued management of waste in a safe and sustainable manner. The EMWRO is managed by Dublin City Council, as the lead authority for the waste region. Our role includes the following:
- Providing education and advice to households and communities to empower them to reduce, reuse and recycle.
- Working hand-in-hand with local authorities to achieve waste prevention and resource efficiency targets.
- Working with business to rethink their approach to waste management, by viewing our waste as valuable material resources.
- Partnering with a range of stakeholders including local authorities, government bodies, waste industry operators, environmental organisations, reuse organisations, research institutions and so on, to research and devise sustainable solutions for specific waste streams.
- Partnering with a range of stakeholders including local authorities, government bodies, waste industry operators, environmental organisations, reuse organisations, research institutions and so on, to research and devise sustainable solutions for specific waste streams.
Our Activities
Waste Prevention
The EMWRO and the local authorities in the region run a range of environmental education and awareness programmes. These programmes are designed to encourage and empower households and communities to minimise waste, reuse materials and recycle. They also link in with other environmental awareness programmes such as Green Schools, Green Campus, Green Communities and Stop Food Waste.
Resource Efficiency
The EMWRO and the local authorities in the region work with businesses of all sizes helping them manage their waste in a manner that saves them money and resources while at the same time achieving greater sustainability. In this area, the EMWRO links in with other national programmes, such as the EPA Be Green programmes and industrial symbiosis projects.
Technical Expertise
The EM RWMPO provides valuable technical expertise around the implementation of the current waste plan actions under waste policy and legislation, environmental protection, waste infrastructure and capacity, waste statistics, and waste regulation at local authority level.
Our Local Authority Partners
