Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
191. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the way in which the Waste Framework Directive will be implemented; if it will require primary or secondary legislation, and what is the timeframe for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36154/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department welcomes the approval by Council in June of the targeted revision of the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste with regard to food and textile waste. It will set EU targets for food waste reduction by 2030 and introduce measures towards a more sustainable textile sector. I understand that it now proceeds for formal approval by the European Parliament in October and, once formally approved, it is expected to be published in the Official Journal of the EU by the end of 2025.
It is mandated that transposition into Irish law must occur within 20 months of the entry into force of the amending Directive. It is expected that this transposition will be achieved through secondary legislation. If the Directive is published in the Official Journal of the EU by the end of 2025 the transposition should be completed by September 2027.
In the interim period please note that my Department, as the lead Government Department in developing Ireland’s National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap 2023-2025 and in the coordination and review of its implementation, will continue to work with key stakeholders in order to pursue ambitious food loss and food waste reductions. The preparation of the next iteration of the National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap before the end of 2025 will involve consultation with key stakeholders and will be prepared on a statutory basis following publication of the Circular Economy Strategy. The targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive will be particularly important in informing further focused and targeted actions on food waste prevention.
In relation to textiles, a draft of the National Policy Statement and Roadmap for Circular Textiles was published for public consultation in May for a six-week period until 7 July. The targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive greatly informed this Statement and Roadmap and I look forward to publishing the final document later this year. My Department has started the foundational work for an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for textiles and plans to develop an EPR Roadmap this year. According to the Directive approved by Council in June, Member States are required to have an EPR in place by 2028.
