Market Development Group

Development of markets for the recovered biodegradable municipal waste is key to the success of the National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste. The end goal is a situation where market demand is strong and revenues are achieved that offset the costs of collection and treatment of waste. This outcome can be facilitated by market research and development and be best achieved by the waste management industry and the public sector in a partnership approach.

A Market Development Group (MDG) of key stakeholders was established in 2004 under the guidance of the Department of Environment, Heritage, Local and Government (DoEHLG) 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. This Group will identify barriers to the use and marketing of recyclable materials and make recommendations to address these.

The MDG has a independent chairperson and includes representatives from a number of bodies such as IBEC, IWMA, DoEHLG, Entreprise Ireland, NSAI, EPA, ISME, City and Country Manager’s Association, Small Firms Association and others.

This governmental initiative has similar objectives to the model used for other Groups such as WRAP and REMADE, which were set up to stimulate market development for recyclable materials within the United Kingdom and Scotland respectively.

The Market Development Group intends to focus specifically on those areas which are identified as having the greatest potential. Priority work will include an examination of the optimum mechanisms for the inclusion of environmental considerations within public procurement.

Working sub-committees have been established within the Market Development Group, with participants selected from the wider constituencies of the MDG membership. These sub-committees will investigate the relevant market development issues in relation to the following categories of BMW:
Plastics
Organics
Paper and Cardboard

 

Cré welcomes the 5 year Market Development Group plan which was launched by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in April 2007. The plan will create markets for organics, paper and plastic materials.

The MDG plan for Organics is a major step forward to create sustainable compost markets. There are many opportunities to develop sustainable compost markets and Cré looks forward to forging a good working relationship with the 'Market Development Group Implementation Team'. At the moment it has not been decided on the form in which the ‘Implementation team will take. A survey of Cré members overwhelming recommended that the MDG should be a not for profit organisation based on the WRAP model.

Within this plan it is outlined that Cré will provide funding to develop a National Compost Standard and Quality Assurance scheme (QAS). The plan will also provide full financial support for 15 composting sites to take part in the QAS scheme. Cré is delighted at this announcement. The Quality Assurance Scheme is vital for the composting sector in Ireland and all efforts will be made by Cré to deliver this as soon as possible.

Details on the organic elements of the plan are provided from pages 53 to 61 of the report, click here to download the report (7Mb)