Introduction
Good morning ladies and gentlemen.
I would like to thank the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management Ireland (CIWM) for the opportunity to address your conference here this morning. I’d like to thank your Secretary Toddy Cuthbert & your Chairman Enda Kiernan in particular for inviting me.
As you will be aware, waste policy has been the subject of much debate for the past number of years. Some informed & well motivated & some otherwise, but the result of that debate was general uncertainty in the waste sector. And uncertainty in any business, particularly in the waste sector where National & European policy is so instrumental, is bad for business. Those of you in this room know that better than most.
With the imminent arrival of President Obama to these shores I’m reminded of a quote from a previous Irish American President “Too often we have enjoyed the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought” – a view which I think we could apply to some debates around waste policy on this island.
A review of waste policy was initiated in 2007 but failed to result in the adoption of any clear new waste policy. Therefore, a significant degree of stagnation developed in the waste sector resulting in an uncertain investment environment.
This Government’s new waste policy, which I intend to publish this year, will be founded on a firm, evidence-based understanding of the many scientific, social and economic issues which are inherent elements of the waste policy debate.
There will be considerable discomfort of thought involved but there will be certainty.
To that end, I’d like to give you an outline today some of the measures I have and will be putting in place as I move to finalise a new waste policy by the end of this year. This policy will be transparent and will bring clarity for both customers and providers in the sector. I want give you an overview of this Government’s approach to waste policy.
Policy Outline
I want to see effective, efficient and quality waste services being provided to business and householders. I want a waste policy that delivers for the citizen and the environment. The guiding principles which will be used to develop our waste policy are in line with the approach set out in the Programme for Government. They will adhere to the EU waste hierarchy and favour an approach to waste management that minimises waste going to landfill and maximises the resources that can be recovered from it.
The policy will have a number of key features:
It will be designed to minimise the volumes of waste generated and to extract the maximum value from those wastes which do arise;
It will be aimed at delivering a positive environmental outcome and maximising the collective wellbeing through ensuring efficient, effective and progressive waste services for consumers and businesses;
It will be calibrated both to the immediate demands Ireland faces and to the long-term challenges;
It will be consistent with the cornerstones of National and European policy, including the waste hierarchy, the principle that the polluter pays, sustainable materials management and the urgent imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
It will be in keeping with the complementary roles which the private and public sectors can play;
It will be designed to facilitate necessary investment in infrastructure, within an appropriately regulated waste market framework;
And, finally, it will be sufficiently flexible to respond to emerging developments in relation to technology, operational practice and wider thinking in the waste management policy realm.
Waste Framework Directive Regulations
We need to kick on and make up for lost time in driving forward our management of waste. While not lacking in ambition, I believe we must be realistic about our starting point. The internationally recognised waste hierarchy is the bedrock on which our waste policy must sit. On 31 March, I completed Ireland’s transposition of the Waste Framework Directive by signing the European Communities (Waste Directive) Regulations, giving statutory recognition to the hierarchy in Irish law. This must inform and channel our next steps.
Despite the very significant progress that has been made over the last decade, we are still overly dependent on the bottom tier of that hierarchy, sending over 60% of our municipal waste to landfill. Compare that to countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands, where only 1% of municipal waste is landfilled.
So we’re not at the top of the class and indeed, we might be in danger of having the parents being called in! Therefore, accepting the urgent need to make a rapid and significant move away from landfill must be our initial step on the road to the provision of a diverse range of waste treatment options. A focus on the management of Biodegradable Waste is clearly demanded in this regard, making the theme of your conference today extremely timely.
Landfill Levies
Ireland already faces significant challenges in meeting certain of its EU targets. In 2009, we sent just over 1 million tonnes of biodegradable waste to landfill. The EPA estimated we were on track to comply with the 2010 landfill limit, but we must be honest and recognise the impact of the economic downturn on this performance. The maximum amount of such material which can be sent to landfill in 2013 is 610,000 tonnes and only 427,000 by 2016. Right now, disposal – which is the most environmentally unsound option for dealing with our waste – is the cheapest. That situation is simply not sustainable. And we need to plan for how we treat our waste as we return to economic growth.
A significant element of the response to this situation resides in the landfill levy. I have said before that the State’s intentions in relation to waste policy must be crystal clear.
The legislation I brought before the Dáil this month will allow me to increase the landfill levy to €50 per tonne from 1 September 2011. I plan to increase the levy to €65 per tonne from July 2012 and to €75 per tonne from July 2013. These changes will encourage the development of alternative treatment options to provide choice in the market and to deliver better environmental performance.
Many of you here are involved in such enterprises and I want to encourage you to pursue your investment decisions with confidence.
I am providing the waste sector with the certainty that it needs to prepare for the changes that these increases will bring.
Household Food Regulations & Regulatory Impact Assessments
Given the pressing need to move forward in complying with the Landfill Directive limits and following on from last year’s introduction of the Food Waste Regulations that require source segregation of food waste & separate collection of that waste in the commercial sector, my Department will be completing a Regulatory Impact Assessment on Household Food Waste Regulations.
These Regulations will be designed to divert such material away from landfill primarily through the brown bin system. I expect to conclude this Assessment and to announce my decision in relation to these Regulations before the summer.
I will also be commencing a Regulatory Impact Assessment next month on competition for the market in household waste collection. This is a change which is supported by a number of analyses of the Irish waste market and stakeholders like you will be included in this assessment process.
Producer Responsibilty Schemes Review
In addition to these Assessments, I am also initiating a review of existing producer responsibility schemes, with a particular focus on packaging, in light of commitments in the Programme for Government.
I want to ensure that such schemes are delivering for both their members and for Ireland in complying with national and EU legislation.
Waste Facility Levy
Another much debated issue that requires certainty is the application of a levy to incineration facilities. I have been considering the waste facility levy proposal in the context of the recently signed Regulations transposing the waste framework directive and will make known my decision when the Environment Bill returns to the Dáil in May.
National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste (NSBW)
I’d like to return now to some of the topics you are discussing at today’s conference. The National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste (NSBW) was published by the Department in 2006 and outlined policy in respect of reaching Ireland’s landfill diversion targets for biodegradable waste.
A Market Development Group had already been established in 2004 under the guidance of my Department and the National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste made further recommendations for the work of this group by way of an action plan which included the establishment of a compost quality standard.
The Market Development Group went on to develop the Market Development Programme for Waste Resources 2007 – 2011. The implementation of that programme began in October 2008 and is managed by rx3, who will make a presentation later today on the programme itself, and is overseen by my
Department.
The programme has a considerable focus on organics with several significant deliverables identified including;
The establishment of an industry-based compost standard
The development of a Quality Assurance Scheme so as to support the establishment of a National Compost Quality Standard, and
The establishment of Crop Trials so as to demonstrate to the farming community the effectiveness and benefits of using compost/digestate within various agricultural applications.
CRÉ Quality Assurance Scheme
In 2009, The Composting Association of Ireland (CRÉ) developed an industry led quality standard for source separated biodegradable material derived compost in association with the Environmental Protection Agency through its STRIVE Programme 2007-2013.
The Market Development Group, RX3, in supporting the development of stable outlets and robust markets for recovered waste materials, including compost highlighted a revised initiative to take the STRIVE standard and develop it further into a national compost standard.
This work was overseen by the National Standards Authority of Ireland with participation of key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. This process is now complete and the National Standard (IS 441) is due to be published very soon.
In respect of establishing a Compost Quality Assurance Scheme the Market Development Programme, through RX3, went to the market in late 2010 to procure the development of a Quality Assurance Scheme so as to support the standard.
This project is currently underway with Certification Europe due to carry out pilot and trialling work at selected facilities so as to enable a compost QAS to be up and running and self financing within two years.
Crop Trials
Crop trials for compost/digestate were also initiated in 2010 and are also due to run for 2 years. This project is being carried out by Methanogen Ltd in conjunction with UCD and I understand Vicky Heslop will give a presentation on this later today followed by a site visit in the afternoon to see a farm where the crop trials are in operation.
National Green Procurement Action Plan
It is also important to note that the on-going implementation of the Market Development Programme will play a key role in the monitoring and evaluation of relevant actions specified within the National Green Procurement Action Plan which I intend to publish shortly.
These developments at National level reflect well on developments taking place within the EU context such as developing end of waste criteria for compost/digestate and the role of quality assurance systems in facilitating the management of this material in stimulating the market by increasing consumer confidence.
To achieve what is required in respect of successful biowaste management in Ireland, it is imperative that all the key players in both the public and private sector work together towards that common goal and in particular in respect of supporting relevant initiatives such as those outlined under the Government funded RX3 programme.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a chairde, it is this Government’s intention to ensure the development of an efficient, effective and diverse waste management sector and I hope that you can see that we are taking immediate steps to achieve these multiple goals. I think you’ll appreciate that it is difficult for a Kilkenny man to come to Tipperary, after last years hurling final, and talk about multiple goals. However, I think you’ll find that waste policy isn’t the only field to which certainty will return this year...
I wish you well in your discussions over the rest of the day.
Thank you for your attention.