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The Circular Economy

We live in a world where we take materials produced by the earth and make things that we may only use once before throwing them away. This ‘take, make, use and dispose' system is known as the linear economy. Our focus now is to move from a linear to a circular economy.

Reuse furniture

What is the circular economy?

In the circular economy system, we use less raw material, we design products for long-life and recyclability, we share products, we use them for longer and we reuse and repair things before we recycle or throw them away.

A basket of vegetables on a wooden table

Top tips to prevent food waste at home

Reducing your food waste is one of the most effective actions you can take to help fight climate change. Any step you take to reduce your waste has the potential to cause significant effects. Here are some of the things you can do, it really is small steps for big impact!

Take action on the circular economy

Top 5 things to do for a circular economy Top 4 'Stretch Out and Save' tips to prevent food waste
The Circular Economy Programme Leaflet Cover
Download our programme leaflet

The Circular Economy Programme

Ireland’s Circular Economy Programme (2021 to 2027) is the driving force for Ireland's move to a circular economy. The vision for the Programme, which is led by the EPA, is an Ireland where the circular economy ensures that everyone uses less resources and prevents waste to achieve sustainable economic growth. This Programme incorporates and builds upon the previous National Waste Prevention Programme. The Circular Economy Programme will work with others to deliver programmes. The Programme will provide leadership to ensure alignment of national, regional and local circular economy activities. It will maintain a competitive programme of innovation grants and seed-funding to support circular economy initiatives. The programme will implement actions that build knowledge and evidence to inform circular economy development in Ireland. It will realise the enterprise opportunity of a circular economy by supporting new business models and promoting resource efficiency.

What's happening in the circular economy?

Circular Economy Infographic

The Circular Economy goes beyond the management of waste.  The focus is on reducing the amount of raw materials we use and maximising the value of materials along the production and consumption chain. Waste is recycled where possible and brought back into production processes.  Otherwise it is used to create energy instead of disposal to landfill.  The Circular Economy graphic shows the different stages of the circular economy.

In Ireland, our current waste policy is A Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy. The Government’s Circular Economy Strategy and the EPA’s Circular Economy Programme were published in 2021.  The EPA’s Circular Economy Programme programme has been devised to support the Government’s Circular Economy Strategy and is a reconfiguration of Ireland’s National Waste Prevention Programme. At EU level, the European Green Deal includes a Circular Economy Action Plan, with a focus on sustainability and turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities.

What's being done?

How we work 2021

Advocacy, Insights, Data & Coordination

We communicate solutions for the Circular Economy based on expertise, data and behavioural insights. We gather evidence and publish circular insights to inform robust policy development. We provide advice, assessments and national statistics to support the development and implementation of national policy.

We are an advocate for waste prevention and the circular economy in Ireland, including working with the public on priority topics such as food waste and plastics.

We support Circular Heroes – enterprises that are delivering circular economy activities.

Innovation & Demonstration

We have targeted funding programmes to support the development of novel solutions for the circular economy. We share learnings and showcase best-practice for enterprises and organisations in moving to the circular economy.

Delivering through Partnerships

We collaborate with other influential national organisations to deliver programmes and solutions for the circular economy in Ireland. Working with and through others we extend our reach and influence

Regulatory Framework for Circularity

Through our regulatory role and experience, we develop responses to circular economy challenges, while ensuring the protection of human health and the environment.

 

View our seven key priority areas to learn more about:

Packaging

Plastics

Textiles

Food, Water and Nutrients

Construction and Buildings

Electronics and ICT

Batteries and Vehicles

Featured reports on Resources

in: circular economy
Sketch outline of person pushing wheelie bin towards rubbish truck with photo of crushed plastic bottles as background
Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

Chapter 15

Circular Economy and Waste

The Circular Economy Programme Leaflet Cover
The Circular Economy Programme 2021-2027

The driving force for Ireland's move to a Circular Economy

The Circular Economy Programme vision is for an Ireland where the Circular Economy ensures that everyone uses less resources and prevents waste to achieve sustainable economic growth.

FAQs on Circular Economy

Some of the frequently asked questions we receive about the Circular Economy and their answers

  • Textiles

    The EPA analyse the amounts and types of municipal waste collected at kerbside. The percentage of textiles included in municipal waste can be seen here.

  • D Codes

    Disposal codes categorise the various types of waste disposal. These codes are used by the National Waste Statistics team at the EPA to track and report on the treatment of waste in Ireland.

  • Circular Material Use Rate

    The circular material use rate (CMUR) is the share of used material resources which came from recycled waste materials. This means that less primary materials are extracted. Ireland's current CMUR is low and is reported by Eurostat here.  It is government policy to increase Ireland’s CMUR to the European average by 2030.

     

     

  • Anaerobic Digestion

    The process of anaerobic digestion is the breakdown of organic matter by micro-organisms and enzymes in an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment. It involves placing organic material such as food waste, sewage sludge, crops, crop waste and manure into an air-tight vessel or covered lagoon known as a digestion tank or a reactor.  The organic matter is typically heated and sometimes mixed to create the optimum environment for micro-organisms to break down the organic content. The end products are biogas and digestate residue. Biogas is composed predominantly of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) – it can be used for heat and/or electricity or upgraded to biomethane and injected into the natural gas grid. Digestate residue, or simply, digestate, is composed of solid and liquid portions, and can be used as fertiliser, animal bedding, and in the production of bioplastics. Find out more here.

  • How much waste do we make per year?

    Ireland generates many millions of tonnes of waste every year, including construction & demolition, municipal (household and similar) waste, packaging, food, hazardous etc.

    The waste that people see in everyday life is that collected in wheelie bins from homes, schools, shops and businesses is called municipal waste and it only makes up a fraction of the overall waste generated. Of that municipal waste, less than half is recycled (visit the National Waste Statistics Waste Characterization site and the Highlights Report for up to date figures). To see how much waste is generated by material type, visit the Waste generation page.

Watch our videos on the circular economy

Download infographics and factsheets on circular economy

The Circular Economy Programmes 2021
NWPP Highlights 2020 jpg
NWPP highlights 2019
2020 National Food Waste Attitudes Survey key insights