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

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environment into public procurement practice for the organisations served
by the Unit.”
The Market Development Programme (MDP) is now involved in this process. The MDP
Action Plan states: 1082
The Department of Finance is committed to the further integration of
environmental considerations into the public procurement process in 2009,
with the goal of bringing us into line with the best performers in Europe. In this
regard, the National Operations Unit (NOU) has been established by the
Department of Finance in order to achieve efficiency and value for money
through the use of centralised and specialised procurement, allowing all
central Government Departments and Offices, agencies and non-commercial
bodies to acquire a range of goods and services more effectively and
efficiently.
The Market Development Programme will co-operate with the Department of
Finance in promoting Green Procurement. In addition, the Implementation
Team will collaborate on Green Procurement with the DOEHLG, other
Government Departments and Agencies, the Forfás High Level Action Group
on Green Enterprise as well as key stakeholder groups like the EU, EPA and
local authorities who have already started delivering best practice and tools in
this area. Working together will avoid duplication of efforts and ensure that
optimal and consistent Green Procurement strategies are put in place across
the different sectors and organisations.
The goals of the Market Development Programme are stated as:
� Identify and overcome challenges to Green Procurement in the use of
materials produced by the recycling of organic, paper, plastic and other waste
materials,
� Provide information on the availability and suppliers of green products,
� Promote the development of Green Procurement policies in public and private
sectors,
� Demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits of Green Procurement
policies within public and private sectors,
� Provide information to the public and private sectors on the practical aspects
of Green Procurement.
It is to be hoped that this will add some impetus to the process, although the above
goals suggest that the MDP’s role will be supportive rather than leading on policy
development. Critical in the process will be the commitment of high level officials in
Government, notably in the Department of Finance and in DoEHLG, to carry the
process forward with vigour. The slowness of progress thus far suggests that in the
past, this has been absent, with words uttered, but little by way of action taken.
1082 Market Development Programme (2009) Market Development Programme for Waste and
Resources, Action Plan 2009.
International Review of Waste Policy: Annexes