International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

To date the Market Development Group has developed its Business Plan, which
details the activities the Market Development Group will undertake over the following
year(s). Specific deliverables are set out in the Action Plan for 2009. 127
The Action Group on the Recyclate Market was established in November 2008 by the
Minister following a dramatic fall in the international price for ‘recyclates’. The drop in
demand was very rapid and was caused by the current international economic
situation, combined with the very large fall in oil prices. Ireland exports 85% of its
recycling material, and the price fall has led to serious difficulties within the recycling
industry in Ireland. The Action Group met on the 6 th of November and the following
synopsis of their findings was provided:
95
� All agreed that storage of materials (which had commenced as a means to
deal with material for which no market could be found) was only a short term
solution;
� Anecdotal evidence suggested that some small operators were ceasing
collection of recycling bins and requesting their customers to use the ‘black
bin’ (for residual waste) only;
� Industry / local authorities indicated that the additional costs associated with
recycling would have to be passed to households and businesses. Awareness
would have to be raised among the public of the costs associated with
recycling.
� All agreed that high quality material was required for access to the key
Chinese market (to which much of Ireland’s collected paper and card is sent,
sometimes via the UK), and that this had implications for some operators’
current collection and treatment systems;
� Some members of the industry said movement on the landfill levy was urgently
required in order to ensure that recycling efforts are not undermined and to
remove any future temptation to landfill such material;
� Both industry and the EPA recommended co-firing (at, for example, cement
kilns) be considered for some of the material; and
� Infrastructure and indigenous recycling industry need to be developed.
Other initiatives such as the development of the National Strategy on Biodegradable
Waste (published in 2006) and a National Compost Standard were also identified in
this Policy document as being important projects to undertake to further develop
markets for recycled products in Ireland. 128
127 DoEHLG (2009) Market Development Programme for Waste Resources, Action Plan 2009,
http://www.mdg.ie/MDGUploadedFiles/file/MDP%20Action%20Plan_8_06_09.pdf
128 DoEHLG (2007) Market Development Programme for Waste Resources 2007-2011.
International Review of Waste Policy: Annexes