The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., today published for public consultation proposed new regulations on the trade in scrap metal – the Waste Management (Facility Permit and Regulation) (Amendment) Regulations 2012.

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These regulations would impose new obligations on operators of waste facility sites.

The Minister noted the cost to society of the recent widespread incidence of metal theft. The Minister commented: "While the scourge of metal theft raises issues beyond what can be addressed under the Waste Management Act, I believe that appropriate checks at waste facility sites will greatly help in resolving this problem. The measures I am proposing today are designed, above all, to enhance the traceability of purchases of scrap metal at these sites."