BUSINESS REVIEW

SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT

Greenstar, Ireland’s leading provider of environmental, waste management and recycling solutions has, like its counterparts in the UK and North America, had to adapt to challenging economic circumstances over the past twelve months.

During this time, a reduction in trading activities was experienced in line with the rest of the economy, in addition to pressure to reduce costs and increased competition.

Despite these circumstances, Greenstar has continued to grow geographically, diversify from construction related industries and significantly increase its green energy deliverables. Greenstar implemented a cost reduction programme in the last quarter of the fiscal year, which is expected to yield significant savings to the company over the following twelve months.

As planned, Greenstar’s landfill at KTK ceased taking waste in October 2008 after ten years in operation and in accordance with its licence. It has successfully diverted the majority of the volumes previously taken into KTK to its other landfills. The company’s Ballynagran landfill was awarded the Peel’s Cup by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management for the best operated waste facility in the UK and Ireland, the first occasion that an Irish facility has been honoured with the award in its 20 year existence.

As with other private operators in the sustainable waste management sector, Greenstar Ireland has had to operate in a climate of regulatory uncertainty over the past year, including moves to limit competition in the domestic market in the greater Dublin area collection and recycling sector. This uncertainty has been accentuated by inconsistent political support surrounding a Dublin based incinerator, which would have a significant impact on the face of the Irish recycling market. Greenstar has been active in its promotion of a fair competitive environment and expects greater clarity around these key regulatory policy initiatives over the coming months. The landscape within which the business operates will become more predictable, enabling it to better identify and address the market opportunities available to it.

In continuation of its vertically integrated model, the business is focusing on the future expansion of its biowaste treatment capabilities and is looking at opportunities such as Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT), which has the potential to divert up to 92% of waste from landfill. MBT will enable not only the recycling of municipal solid waste, which would otherwise be land-filled, but it also enables Greenstar to enter the fast developing Refuse Derived Fuel market.