rx3 has generated a market report about organic waste management, compost production and compost use in Ireland. This report brings together comprehensive information about the sector for the first time.
The report notes that there has been a generally upward trend since 2000 in numbers of composting facilities operational, capacity provided, materials treated and compost produced.
Fifteen composting facilities were surveyed to gather information about markets, sales routes and perceived barriers. These facilities noted that two thirds of compost produced at these facilities is sold. Compost distributed was used in agriculture, landscaping, horticulture and amateur gardening, with a small volume used in landfill engineering and in grounds maintenance.
Perceived barriers to the sector were regulatory or awareness related. Regulatory issues relate to planning, taxation or animal by-products, while awareness issues relate to waste producer contamination, and compost user perception.
The report presents data about five Irish sectors that use compost products – agriculture and organic farming, horticulture, retail, landscaping and forestry and brownfield and contaminated land. The report presents data about each sector, quantifies compost usage in the sector, assesses awareness of compost, barriers to compost usage, and quantifies the actual and potential compost use in the retail sector.
Current and potential markets for compost are identified, including specialist sectors like horticultural clusters which could consume specialist compost products. Mean European compost sales prices are also identified, which may signal relative or potential Irish prices.
The report indicates that total compost consumption, currently 190,000 tonnes, could be increased to over 500,000 tonnes by production increases and consequent appropriate market development.