On 13th May 2009, Mr. John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government launched an innovative €13 million Market Development Programme to develop new markets and help create new Irish jobs by transforming waste into new sustainable products. RPS is managing the implementation of this programme on behalf of DoEHLG through an expert team based in our Dublin office. RPS is tasked with project managing the programme’s key objectives and deliverables, liaising with the DOEHLG, the MDG and stakeholders.

Targeting entrepreneurs, third level institutions, manufacturers and waste organisations, over the next five years, the Market Development Programme will identify and help develop markets for a variety of waste streams including plastics, paper, metals, organics, glass and wood.

Ireland exports 1.5 million tonnes of recyclable waste a year.  That’s close to 76% of total recyclable waste generated here - waste that could be reprocessed here at home. 

A Tender seeking people to conduct demonstration trials using compost in agriculture will shortly be published. This will be of interest to the farming sector and compost producers.  A second Tender to quantify the amount of plastic waste in the country will determine for the first time, the volumes, locations, types and current outlets for a variety of plastics generated in Ireland.  The results will be of particular interest to entrepreneurs wishing to add value to waste plastics.  Further Tenders will follow.

The Market Development Programme will work with academic colleges and institutions to help ensure that their Research and Development projects address topics of interest to entrepreneurs.  It will also work with scientific bodies and representative bodies like IBEC to ensure the needs of industry are given priority.

As part of the programme a database of all recycled products in Ireland will also be developed and for the first time, there will be a comprehensive listing of all the products made from recycled materials in Ireland available for people to refer to when choosing to buy new products. A comprehensive database of reprocessors - people who reprocess waste materials adding value to them – will also be published in the coming weeks at www.mdg.ie and will be of great value to people who are seeking to buy reprocessed waste materials and those who are collecting waste materials and looking for outlets to sell them.

The Programme will also develop “green” procurement programmes to encourage businesses and the public sector to consider buying products derived from recycled materials.  

Pictured at the launch of the Market Development Programme are (left to right):

Louise Connolly, Materials Manager, RPS; Olivier Gaillot, Technical Director, RPS; Ray Georgeson, MDP Review Team Chair;; John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government; Conor McGovern, Organics Manager, RPS and Grace Binchy, Communications Manager, RPS.