The Vital Role of the IWMA
Our member companies employ more than 8,500 people directly.
They collect 95% of the household waste currently managed in Ireland and the vast bulk of the commercial, industrial and hazardous wastes.
Our members processed more than 10 million tonnes of waste at our c.200 waste management facilities in 2024. The bulk of this waste was recycled or otherwise recovered. All our member’s facilities are either licensed by the EPA or operated under a local authority permit.
Here is breakdown of the facilities operated by IWMA Members using 2019 data:
| Type of Facility | Number of Facilities | Operational Capacity (tonnes) | 2019 Throughput (tonnes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non Hazardous Transfer & Pre-Treatment Facilities | 70 | 4,821,653 | 3,680,118 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities (sorting recyclables) | 10 | 694,670 | 648,582 |
| Biological Treatment Facilities (composting/AD) | 9 | 374,000 | 246,668 |
| Energy from Waste facilities (Modern incinerator) | 2 | 820,000 | 820,000 |
| Residual Waste Landfill (non-hazardous) | 3 | 358,000 | 358,000 |
| Hazardous Waste Transfer & Treatment Facilities (2013 data) | 10 | 508,257 | 225,203 |
| Metal Recycling Facilities (2018 data) | 15 | 700,000 (TBC) | 531,314 |
| Totals | 118 | 8,276,580 | 6,509,885 |
