Burning of Agricultural Waste/Green Waste Burning

Ending of Exemption for Agricultural Green Waste Burnings

Since the 30th of November 2023 you can no longer burn green waste.

Why did the burning of green waste end?

To improve the sustainable management of agricultural green waste which will:

Improve air quality and human health.

Better utilise material for sustainable alternative uses

Enhance and promote biodiversity.

What are the sustainable practices to replace burning?

In November 2022, the Irish Bioenergy Association on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine developed a feasibility study on the sustainable management of agricultural green waste in Ireland.

This report outlines many sustainable alternatives to burning which farmers are permitted to use, including:

Use of flailing and return the cut material to the ground in-situ
Establish a nature pile/biodiversity habitat corner allowing the material to decompose over time
Produce sustainable wood fuel for own heating use on-farm
Composting of the material on-farm
Off-farm energy generation from high quality, large volume, uncontaminated material
Use of the material for animal bedding
Produce landscaping material
Biochar production

Further information

Further information can be found by viewing the Agricultural Green Waste Leaflet

Any queries in relation to the enforcement of the Wildlife Act, 1976, as amended, should be directed to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, or phone LoCall 1890 383 000