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

stream (estimated at 8% in the Waste Characterisation report carried out on behalf of
the EPA. 854)
Finally, it is important to comment on why the commercial and household captures of
dry recyclables are so much higher than the capture of organics. In principle, the
economics of both both the source separation of dry recyclables, and the collection and
treatment of source segregated organic materials, are driven by the avoided costs of
disposal. In principle, therefore, the two might be expected to develop in parallel.
Clearly, this has not happened.
One reason for this is that the separate collection of biowaste presumes the existence
of a treatment facility which is capable of handling the materials as collected by the
collecting entity. Not only does this require a degree of certainty in terms of the
direction of travel in respect of separate collection of biowaste, but it also presumes
that the approach to licensing facilities is not unduly onerous, and facilitates
investment by developers of such facilities. It can be argued that the absence of any
certainty in terms of the direction of travel of policy – at least until recently – has
made it difficult to justify investments in both additional collection infrastructure, and
the treatment of collected materials. 855 The matter of treatment of organic waste has
been further hindered by a lack of clarity over the implementation of the Animal Byproducts
Regulation in Ireland, though this now shows signs of being resolved (see
Annex 37.0).
51.2.1 Potential Treatment Capacity for Organic Wastes from the Municipal
Stream
A report by InterTradeIreland suggests that on the island of Ireland (i.e. including
Northern Ireland), capacity at licensed and permitted sites which have the capability
for treating animal by-products is of the order 718,000 tonnes, of which, facilities of
capacity around 313,000 tonnes are currently operational. These facilities have
around 135,000 tonnes of spare capacity.
It is estimated that of the unbuilt, but licensed / permitted capacity, around 235,000
tonnes could be built by early 2010. In addition, there are sites in the planning
process at present. 856
The picture is not completely clear from this report regarding the situation in the
Republic of Ireland. Our own brief attempt to generate relevant data suggests that
currently operational capacity for facilities capable of treating animal by-products is of
the order 86,000 tonnes, but that there is ‘latent’ capacity which may be of the order
854 RPS (2009) Municipal Waste Characterisation Surveys 2008, Final Report for the EPA, March
2009.
855 This review clearly has not helped add to the certainty, and one aim of the review must be to give
greater certainty to investors regarding the nature of alternatives to landfill required, and regarding the
flow of materials into non-landfill facilities without at the same time undermining the desirability of
delivering on high recycling rates.
856 InterTradeIreland (2009) Market Report on the Composting and Anaerobic Digestion Sectors,
Report for Cre and WRAP, May 2009.
702
29/09/09