Does the development require a waste permit?

Certain activities involving the disposal or reuse/recovery/recycling of materials require a Local Authority permit under the "Waste Management (Permit) Regulations, 1998. One such activity is the filling of a site with waste material or spoil (e.g. demolition rubble, subsoil, topsoil etc.). If you intend to raise the level of a site using this type of material, you will require a permit as well as planning permission. There are a number of other activities which require a waste permit. These are:

• The incineration of waste (other than hazardous or hospital waste) at a facility the capacity of which is equal to or less than 1 tonne per hour.
• The recovery of scrap metal or other metal waste.
• The dismantling or recovery of vehicles.
• The recovery of waste which is composed of or contains mercury or its compounds, (including electric lamps, light bulbs and fluorescent tubes).
• The recovery of waste (other than hazardous waste) at a facility (other than a facility for the composting of waste where the amount of compost and waste held at the facility exceeds 1000 cubic meters at any time
• The disposal of waste (other than hazardous waste) at a facility (other than a landfill facility) where the annual intake does not exceed 5,000 tonnes per annum

Waste disposal or recovery activities other than those listed above may require a licence from the Environmental Protection Agency. If you are in any doubt about whether your development requires a licence or a waste permit, please contact the Environment Section of Limerick County Council on 061 49 62 64. It is an offence under the Waste Management Act, 1996 to 2003 to carry out any of the above activities without a permit or licence. Failure to comply with the requirements of the legislation may result in prosecution.

A permit application should be made prior to commencement of construction and the permit should be in place before the activity commences.