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Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Comhshaoil agus Gnóthaí Tuaithe Depairtment o' Fairmin, Environment an' Kintra Matthers

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  • Environmental Improvement Plan

    Topics:
    • Resource & Waste Policy, 
    • Waste Policy Tracker

    An Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) is a statutory requirement of the Environment Act 2021. It is designed to significantly improve the natural environment and our enjoyment of it. The EIP will provide the focus for protecting and enhancing our natural environment for the coming decades.

    Type of Change

    Statutory and non-statutory

    Affected Stakeholders

    • All NI citizens
    • Businesses
    • District councils

    Changes

    Not possible to provide this information as there are hundreds of actions/targets within the Plan.

    Status

    The first EIP Annual Progress Report was published on 26 January 2026 and covered the 12 month reporting period from the publishing of the EIP on 27 September 2024. 

    Expected Timeline

    Now into second year of reporting. The Office for Environmental Protection is producing a response to the EIP Annual Progress Report. Its response is due to be published on 24 June 2026. 

    Related content

    • Batteries - Implementation of the EU Batteries Regulation
    • Contaminated Land
    • Digital Waste Tracking
    • Diverting Biodegradable Waste from Landfill
    • Extended Producer Responsibility - Deposit Return Scheme
    • Extended Producer Responsibility - Packaging
    • Food Waste
    • Green Growth Strategy
    • Plastic Pollution Plan
    • Producer Responsibility – Batteries
    • Producer Responsibility – End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Review
    • Producer Responsibility – Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
    • Recycling - Circular Economy Package (CEP) Municipal Waste Recycling Targets
    • Recycling – Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 – Recycling & Net Zero Targets
    • Reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from the Waste Management Sector
    • Single Use Plastic Directive
    • The Environment Act Implementation
    • The Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy / Waste Management Plan
    • UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) - Emissions from Waste Incineration and Energy from Waste
    • Voluntary Producer Responsibility - Chewing Gum
    • Waste Prevention Programme
    • Wet Wipes Containing Plastic
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