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Saturday 3 June 2023 Dublin: 14°C

# Environmental Protection Agency

Last year
2022
# recycling
Rising levels of waste making it difficult to increase recycling rates, EPA warns
The EPA’s national waste statistics report for 2020 has been published today.
# Nuclear Emergency
Ireland's nuclear emergency response plan tested yesterday for the first time in five years
The training exercise was held to ‘test the national response to a nuclear emergency abroad’.
# Carlow
Carlow company told to engage with EPA following complaints about strong odour
The council launched an investigation following complaints from residents.
# EPA
Eamon Ryan says 'we have to do more' as greenhouse gas emissions top pre-pandemic levels
The figures show an increase in emissions of 4.7% in 2021 compared to 2020, when Covid restrictions had led to a significant decrease in emissions.
The Environmental Protection Agency report shows an increase in emissions of 4.7% in 2021 compared to 2020, when Covid-19 restrictions were in place.
There was a 17.6% increase in emissions from the energy industries sector, attributable to a tripling of coal and oil use in electricity generation last year.
Agriculture emissions increased by 3% last year, the third year in a row that emissions have risen in the sector.
'Impossible' targets would undermine agri-sector's 'green image', McConalogue told Ryan
Ireland 'urgently' needs to do more to protect coasts and adapt to climate change impacts
# EPA
170,000 homes across Ireland thought to be at risk from Radon gas, EPA says
The gas is linked to around 350 new cases of lung cancer in Ireland every year.
# Water quality
EPA reveals Ireland's best and worst quality bathing sites
Just two beaches received a ‘poor’ quality rating.
# peat sake
Peat pressure: Industrial peat extraction in enforcement firing line
Historic problems revealed in crackdown on extraction without planning permission and EPA licensing.
Historic problems in enforcement of large-scale peat extraction in Ireland has led to the loss of precious bog, writes Niall Sargent
Noteworthy investigates the case of Harte Peat found to be operating in breach of EU law
12 other peat extractors are now also subject to ongoing EPA enforcement action
# peat extraction
High Court orders peat company to halt unauthorised extraction in Midlands
Environmental Protection Agency brought injunction proceedings against Harte Peat Ltd.
# EPA
One in twenty private water supplies were contaminated with E. coli in 2020, EPA says
An Environmental Protection Agency report said the quality of drinking water from private supplies is “not as good as it should be”.
The agency said 20 of the 380 private group schemes, which serve more than 2,900 people, failed to meet the standard relating to E. coli bacteria.
Twenty-two private group schemes also failed to meet the standard for Trihalomethanes (THM).
Over a quarter of small private supplies, serving food businesses, nursing homes, crèches and B&Bs, were not monitored at all in 2020.
All time
# pipe dreams
It will 'take decades' for Irish Water to remove all lead pipework, EPA says
A report by the Environmental Protection Agency has said it has “serious concerns” about the time it takes to implement improvements.
# EPA
Raw sewage from 33 towns and villages is flowing into our environment every day
Half of Ireland’s urban wastewater is still not treated to the basic EU standards, according to a new report.
# recycling
More than one million tonnes of packaging waste created in Ireland for third year in a row
Our recycling rate has continued to decline.
# Sewage
Irish Water faces sentence over environmental breaches in Cork and Kildare
The prosecution was delayed as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.
# Environmental Protection Agency
Water quality in almost half of Ireland's rivers and lakes deemed unsatisfactory
Many rivers and estuaries in the south and east are under pressure from excess nitrogen from agricultural activities, the EPA said.
# EPA
Pollution causes around 725 deaths in Dublin each year, with 144 linked to diesel emissions, study finds
The EPA study based its findings on an analysis of the level of particulate matter (PM2.5) found in the capital.
# CLIMATE CRISIS
Covid-19 drives biggest drop in Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions since global financial crisis
The country’s emissions fell by almost 6% last year.
# hazardous waste
EPA: Ireland lacks adequate facilities to process the hazardous waste it generates
581,000 tonnes of hazardous waste were produced in Ireland in 2019.
# 2020 environment
Irish performance on climate change 'very poor', says major EPA report
The Environmental Protection Agency today launched its State of the Environment report.
# EPA
Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 4.5% in 2019 - the largest reduction since 2011
But the figures also indicate that Ireland is highly unlikely to meet its overall EU targets by the end of this year.
# EPA
Raw sewage from 35 towns and villages flows into our environment every day
The Environmental Protection Agency is sharply critical of Irish Water in its latest report.
# Clean Air
Poor air quality is prematurely killing over 1,300 in Ireland each year
The EPA’s report for 2019 says action must be taken.
# Rubbish
EPA warns 'single-use and throwaway culture' leading to significant waste levels and decline in recycling
Recycling of packaging waste has declined from 70% in 2013 to 64% in 2018.
# EPA
Over a quarter of waste water systems inspected last year 'posed risk to human health'
The EPA’s annual report shows that half of all septic tanks (1,160) failed inspection last year.
# Study
Irish newspaper coverage of climate change low by European standards and 'predominantly political'
Research found that climate science was generally not contested in Irish reporting.
# Irish Water
Raw sewage from 77,000 people in Ireland flowing into environment every day
Ireland needs “substantial” investment in waste water treatment, the EPA report said.
# Emissions
Thousands of kilos of potent greenhouse gas leaked from an ESB station. The EPA wasn't told
SF6 is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 23,000 times that of carbon dioxide.
# Leixlip
'Small black particles' at Irish Water plant led to boil water notice for 600,000 people last week
The agency confirmed that a blockage was the main reason for last week’s notice.
# Leixlip Water Treatment Plant
Irish Water apologises to 600,000 customers affected by boil water notice
The notice impacts approximately 600,000 people and is expected to stay in place for a number of days.
# Limerick
'A toxic decision': Protest planned after EPA gives green light for Irish Cement Ltd to burn waste
Limerick Against Pollution said “4,400 objections” were lodged against the plans.
# Irish Water
'It's a real crisis': Billions of litres of untreated water overflows at Ringsend wastewater plant since 2015
New figures show the extent of overflows at the plant in recent years.
# dublin bay
Warning of 'odour' near Ringsend as EPA says plumes to continue until waste water plant upgrade
It follows an apparent leak at the plant this week.
# Irish Water
EPA to inspect wastewater treatment plant after brown plume discharges into Dublin Bay
It is the third apparent spillage to occur at the facility this year.
# rté investigates
Internal documents show up to one million litres of oil leaked from ESB underground cables
An RTÉ Investigates programme will look into the pollution.
# Unacceptable
Raw sewage from 38 towns and villages flowing into our environment, report says
The EPA’s Dr Tom Ryan said our health is being put at risk due to the impact on our rivers, lakes and coastal waters.
# Water quality
Here are the best and worst beaches in Ireland to go swimming
Seven coastal bathing waters have failed to meet the minimum standard.
# smelly
'I've had enough': Hundreds of complaints about foul odours across the country
Many of the complaints related to the burning of rubbish by their neighbours.
# Up and Running
Despite setbacks, the Poolbeg incinerator is now fully up and running
The Dublin Waste to Energy project is a public private partnership between Dublin City Council and recycling and energy company Covanta.
# Irish Cement
'The reality is it produces dangerous toxins': Concerns about plan to burn tyres at Limerick plant
Irish Cement wants to burn tyres and other industrial waste at its factory in Mungret.
# microbeads
Public health could be 'at risk' from exposure to microplastics in drinking water
A new report from the Environmental Protection Agency delves into the source of microplastics in our waters.
# Radiation
Serious accident at Sellafield would pose 'no immediate risks to health' in Ireland
A recent BBC panorama investigation suggested there were serious safety concerns at the plant.