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

concerns into consideration allowing less stringent and more workable regulations for
composting.
The ABP Regulations establish a quality assurance scheme for the production of
compost which should reassure end users of the hygienic nature of the end product.
This ought to help stimulate demand and hence instil a confidence amongst potential
users and the public.
A number of food businesses have been affected by the implementation of the policy.
These include food manufacturers, butchers, fishmongers, bakers, retailers, caterers
and distributors. Waste from all of these premises must be disposed of in accordance
with the Regulations.
Existing research on the potential outlets for compost derived from biodegradable
waste, which suggested outlets for 447,750 tonnes of compost per annum, may be
considered quite optimistic. 725 Animal by-products legislation imposes some
landspreading restrictions on compost derived from specific materials. The advent of
the Nitrates Directive may also mean that farmers may be reluctant to accept
nutrients from off-farm sources. Regulations on the nutrient availability and spreading
of sludge will restrict the economic viability of landspreading, and more generally
there is public opposition to landspreading of treated waste. 726
Development of markets for the recovered biodegradable municipal waste is central
to the success of the National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste. A Market
Development Group of key stakeholders was established in 2004, under the
guidance of the Department, with the objective of driving forward the development of
existing markets for recyclables and identifying new applications and markets for
recyclables and secondary recycled products 727 . Given a high-quality sourceseparated
feedstock, it is important to ensure that the composting process will result
in compost that has similar qualities to existing organic amendments, as well as the
ability to develop unique and potentially marketable attributes. Reasonable process
management requirements, monitoring and end-product requirements should be
developed. It may be useful to develop a guide to assist producers of compost in
making a high-quality product. 728
37.9 Effects on Technical Change / Innovation
The Regulations will clearly affect, directly, the operation of composting and biogas
facilities. The intention of the Regulations is to ensure that techniques render the
outputs unproblematic when they are spread on land.
725 Paul van der Werf, Caitríona Carter, Gene Browne, Mac Dara Hosty (2002) Assessment and
Evaluation of Outlets of Compost Produced From Municipal Waste, Report to the EPA.
726 EPA (2008) Hitting the Targets for Biodegradable Municipal Waste: Ten Options for Change,
Wexford: EPA, January 2008.
727 Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, July 2008 - Circular WPPR 17/08.
728 Paul van der Werf, Caitríona Carter, Gene Browne, Mac Dara Hosty (2002) Assessment and
Evaluation of Outlets of Compost Produced From Municipal Waste, Report to the EPA.
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