Waste Management Act 1996
Waste prevention and minimisation.
28.—(1) For the purpose of promoting, supporting or facilitating the prevention or minimisation of waste, any Minister of the Government or a local authority may provide such support or assistance, including the provision of moneys, as he or she or the local authority considers appropriate in relation to research and development projects being carried out, or proposed to be carried out, by any person in respect of the prevention or minimisation of waste, and for the purposes aforesaid may establish programmes and specify criteria and objectives governing the availability and provision of such assistance and support.
(2) (a) A person who carries on any activity of an agricultural, commercial or industrial nature (including the manufacture of any product) shall have due regard to the need to prevent or minimise the production of waste from that activity and, as the case may be, from any product manufactured by him or her as a result of such an activity, and shall take all such reasonable steps as are necessary for the purposes of such prevention or minimisation (including, where appropriate, steps as respects the design of any product aforesaid).
(b) The Minister may by regulations specify steps, as respects any particular activity aforesaid, that shall be regarded as reasonable steps necessary to be taken for the purposes of the prevention or, as the case may be, minimisation of the production of waste referred to in paragraph (a), and a person who carries on such an activity shall take those steps accordingly.
(3) (a) Subject to paragraph (c), the Minister may, after consultation with any Minister of the Government concerned, make regulations for the purpose of preventing, minimising or limiting the production of waste or a specified class or classes of waste, and any such class may be defined by reference to the manufacturing or industrial process or other activity giving rise to the waste concerned or to such other matters as the Minister thinks appropriate.
(b) Subject as aforesaid, regulations under this section may include provisions for the imposition of producer responsibility obligations on producers of products.
(c) Regulations under this section shall only apply to a scheduled activity to such extent as the Minister may determine following consultation with the Agency.
(4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (3), regulations under this section may provide for all or any of the following matters—
(a) requiring a person, in a specified manner, to conduct a waste audit and implement and operate a waste reduction programme in relation to an activity carried on by him or her,
(b) requiring the keeping of specified documents, records or other particulars, and the furnishing of specified information to specified persons or the publication of specified information, in relation to the conduct of a waste audit or the implementation and operation of a waste reduction programme,
(c) exempting a person from the requirements of regulations under the foregoing paragraphs, as respects a particular activity being carried on by that person, if and for so long as he or she is carrying out a specified environmental audit, or operating a specified environmental management system, in relation to the particular activity,
(d) prohibiting, otherwise than with the consent of a person prescribed for the purpose by regulations under paragraph (e), the display or use of any specified mark or symbol at any premises or on or in any product, substance, packaging, advertisement or notice,
(e) prescribing a person for the purposes of regulations under paragraph (d), the procedures to be followed by such a person in granting any consent under such regulations and enabling him or her to withdraw such a consent in specified circumstances,
(f) without prejudice to paragraph (g), requiring a person to use the F111[best available techniques] for preventing or limiting the production of waste from an activity carried on by the said person,
(g) the specification, by the Minister or such person as may be prescribed for the purpose by the regulations, of the F111[best available techniques] for preventing or limiting the production of waste from an activity carried on by a person specified in regulations under paragraph (f),
(h) requiring the producer of a specified class or classes of product to carry out a life cycle assessment in relation to the product, in such manner or in accordance with such standards or procedures as may be specified,
(i) prohibiting, or limiting or controlling in a specified manner and to a specified extent—
(i) the production or use, in a production process or otherwise, of any substance, material or thing,
(ii) the composition, production, importation, distribution, supply, sale, disposal or advertising of any product or substance, or
(iii) the production of any waste,
(j) specifying requirements to be complied with as respects the design, composition or production of packaging and the use which may be made of packaging, including a requirement—
(i) that the composition, volume or weight of packaging be restricted or limited to such extent as is consistent with its purpose of providing protection for the product or substance concerned,
(ii) that packaging be designed, produced and used so as to be capable of being re-used,
(k) requiring products to be designed, manufactured or constructed in a specified manner or in accordance with such standards as may be prescribed in accordance with regulations under paragraph (l),
(l) enabling a specified person or persons to prescribe standards for the purposes of regulations under paragraph (k),
(m) requiring a producer to prepare and publish, at a specified frequency and in a specified manner—
(i) a plan specifying the steps proposed to be taken by him or her to prevent or minimise the production of waste from any activity of production carried on by him or her or from a product manufactured by him or her, or any component of, or packaging related to, such a product, and
(ii) a report on the steps taken by him or her in pursuance of such a plan and the results of those steps,
(n) requiring the preparation and publication, at a specified frequency and in a specified manner, by a person who is the subject of any specified requirement of regulations under this section (other than a requirement imposed by regulations under paragraph (m)) of—
(i) a plan specifying the steps to be taken by him or her to comply with such a requirement, and
(ii) a report on the steps taken by him or her to comply with such a requirement and the results of those steps,
(o) conferring on public authorities (including the Minister) and other specified persons specified additional functions for the purpose of securing or facilitating the operation of provisions of regulations under this section,
(p) any matters consequential on, or incidental to, the foregoing.
(5) (a) Without prejudice to subsection (3) or section 7 (2), regulations under this section may make provision in relation to persons, products, substances, activities or other matters referred to in this section generally or in relation to a specified class or classes of such persons, products, substances, activities or other matters.
(b) A target an obligation to achieve which is imposed on a person by regulations under this section may be defined in such regulations by reference to a specified proportion (whether by weight, volume or otherwise) of the products, substances or other things to which the obligation relates.
(6) A person who contravenes subsection (2) (b) or a provision of regulations under this section shall be guilty of an offence.
(7) In a prosecution for a contravention of regulations under this section (being a contravention consisting of a failure to achieve a target specified in the regulations), it shall be a good defence to prove that the accused took all reasonable steps to achieve the said target.
Annotations
Amendments:
F111
Substituted (12.07.2004) by Protection of the Environment Act 2003 (27/2003), s. 21, S.I. No. 393 of 2004.
Modifications (not altering text):
C17
Additional purposes for which regulations may be made under section specified (1.07.1997) by Litter Pollution Act 1997 (12/1997), s. 30, S.I. No. 213 of 1997.
Extension of purposes for which regulations under Waste Management Act, 1996, may be made.
30.—The purposes for which regulations under sections 28 and 29 of the Waste Management Act, 1996, may be made shall include the purposes of preventing, minimising or controlling litter under this Act.
Editorial Notes:
E270
Power pursuant to section exercised (1.07.2024) by Waste Management (Food Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 294 of 2024), in effect as per reg. 2(2).
E271
Power pursuant to section exercised (2.04.2018) by Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 96 of 2018), in effect as per reg. 2.
E272
Power pursuant to section exercised (19.12.2017) by Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 598 of 2017).
E273
Power pursuant to section exercised (14.09.2017 and 1.10.2017) by Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 400 of 2017), part in effect on date of making, and part as per reg. 1(2).
E274
Power pursuant to section exercised (1.10.2017) by Waste Management (Farm Plastics) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 396 of 2017), in effect as per reg. 2.
E275
Power pursuant to section exercised (7.05.2015) by Waste Management (Food Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 190 of 2015).
E276
Power pursuant to section exercised (10.12.2009) by Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 508 of 2009).
E277
Offence under subs. (6) prescribed as offence for purposes of Waste Management (Facility Permit and Registration) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 821 of 2007), regs. 36 and 38, (31.03.2008) by Waste Management (Facility Permit and Registration) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 821 of 2007), reg. 22(g), in effect as per reg. 2.
E278
Offence under subs. (6) prescribed as offence for purposes of s. 34(5)(a) (31.03.2008) by Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 820 of 2007), reg. 21(g), in effect as per reg. 1(2).
E279
Power pursuant to section exercised (1.07.2006) by Waste Management (Packaging) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 308 of 2006), in effect as per reg. 1(2).
E280
Power pursuant to section exercised (30.12.2004) by Waste Management (Packaging) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 871 of 2004), in effect as per reg. 1(2).
E281
Power pursuant to section exercised (1.03.2003) by Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 61 of 2003), in effect as per reg. 3.
E282
Power pursuant to section exercised (23.07.2001) by Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001 (S.I. No. 341 of 2001), in effect as per reg. 1(2).
E283
Power pursuant to section exercised (1.05.2000) by Waste Management (Hazardous Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 (S.I. No. 73 of 2000), in effect as per reg. 1(2).
E284
Power pursuant to section exercised (20.05.1998) by Waste Management (Hazardous Waste) Regulations 1998 (S.I. No. 163 of 1998), in effect as per reg. 2.
E285
Previous affecting provision: pursuant to section exercised (1.04.2010, 1.06.2010, 1.12.2010, 10.04.2010, and 1.06.2015) by Waste Management (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. No. 143 of 2010), in effect as per reg. 3; revoked (13.07.2011) by European Communities (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 355 of 2011), reg. 46, in effect as per reg. 45.
E286
Previous affecting provision: power pursuant to section exercised (1.04.2010, 10.04.2010, and 1.12.2010) by Waste Management (End-of-Life Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. No. 142 of 2010), in effect as per reg. 3; rendered obsolete by revocation of S.I. No. 282 of 2006, see below.
E287
Previous affecting provision: pursuant to section exercised (26.09.2008) by Waste Management (Restriction of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 376 of 2008), in effect as per reg. 3; rendered obsolete by revocation of S.I. No. 341 of 2005, see below.
E288
Previous affecting provision: pursuant to section exercised (23.09.2008, 26.09.2008, and 1.01.2009) by Waste Management (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 375 of 2008), in effect as per reg. 3; revoked (13.07.2011) by European Communities (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 355 of 2011), reg. 46, in effect as per reg. 45.
E289
Previous affecting provision: pursuant to section exercised (16.07.2008) by Waste Management (Batteries and Accumulators) Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 268 of 2008); revoked by European Union (Batteries and Accumulators) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 283 of 2008), reg. 49(1), subject to transitional provision in para. (2) and construed as per para. (3), as amended (30.07.2017) by European Union (Batteries and Accumulators) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 349 of 2014), reg. 2.
E290
Previous affecting provision: power pursuant to section exercised (1.01.2008) by Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 664 of 2007), in effect as per reg. 1(2); revoked (1.10.2017) by Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 400 of 2017), in effect as per reg. 1(2).
E291
Previous affecting provision: pursuant to section exercised (15.12.2007 and 31.03.2008) by Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 798 of 2007), in effect as per reg. 3; revoked (21.06.2014) by European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 282 of 2014), reg. 36(1), in effect as per reg. 3; subject to transitional provision and construed as per reg. 36(2) and (3).
E292
Previous affecting provision: pursuant to section exercised (8.06.2006) by Waste Management (End-Of-Life Vehicles) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 282 of 2006), in effect as per reg. 3; revoked (21.06.2014) by European Union (End-of-Life Vehicles) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 281 of 2014), reg. 37(1), in effect as per reg. 3; subject to transitional provision and construed as per reg. 37(2) and (3).
E293
Previous affecting provision: pursuant to section exercised (5.07.2005) by Waste Management (Restriction of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 341 of 2005); revoked (2.01.2013) by European Union (Restriction of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 513 of 2012), reg. 35(1), in effect as per reg. 34; subject to transitional provision and construed as per reg. 35(2) and (3).
E294
Previous affecting provision: pursuant to section exercised (5.07.2005) by Waste Management (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 340 of 2005); revoked (30.07.2011) by European Communities (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 397 of 2011), reg. 3, in effect as per reg. 2.
E295
Previous affecting provision: power pursuant to section exercised (1.12.1998) by Waste Management (Packaging)(Amendment) Regulations 1998 (S.I. No. 382 of 1998), in effect as per reg. 1(2); rendered obsolete by revocation of S.I. No. 242 of 1997, see below.
E296
Previous affecting provision: pursuant to section exercised (1.08.1997) by Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 315 of 1997), in effect as per reg. 1(2); revoked (23.07.2001) by Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001 (S.I. No. 341 of 2001), reg. 31, in effect as per reg. 1(2); subject to transitional provision in reg. 32.
E297
Previous affecting provision: pursuant to section exercised (1.07.1997) by Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 242 of 1997), in effect as per reg. 3; revoked (1.03.2003) by Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 61 of 2003), reg. 29, in effect as per reg. 3; subject to transitional provisions in reg. 30.