Who are we?
Created in 1999, SEDE Ireland has specialised in the re-use of urban biosolids. SEDE Ireland is one of the leading management recycling company in the Biosolods recycling in Ireland. SEDE Ireland is a fully owned subsidiary of SEDE Environnement, part of the Veolia group.
As SEDE Ireland is dealing with counties the length and breadth of the country (Donegal to Waterford and Limerick to Wicklow) we now have established a network of transport and spreading subcontractors and approved storage facilities. Consequently, the experience we have dealing with the different County Councils and detailed knowledge of the legislation puts SEDE Ireland in a very strong standing when managing contracts.
5 employees and 7 processing sites
55,000 tonnes of urban and industrial by-products processed
10,000 tonnes of compost marketed
SEDE Ireland is a multi outlet operator
- Recycling, composting and marketing by-products from municipalities and industries: Industrial By-Products & Organic Fertiliser Processing, Landspreadingand Recovery
- Specialist in Nutrient Management Planning
- Landbank Management Services
- Vulnerability assessments
- Monitoring and lab testing
- Water testing
- Soil organic mattrer and Organic Manure testing
The SEDE team in Ireland
Stephen Drennan
Stephen has a degree in Agricultural Science and specialised in Animal Science. He is working with SEDE Ireland since 2003 as Commercial and Technical Manager but is now the Irish Director of SEDE Ireland.
He represents SEDE Ireland at a European level, as a member of EFAR (European Federation of Agricultural Recycling) and has partaken in their meetings in Brussels. As a member of EFAR, he is constantly updated on the Sludge Directive or any other issued at a European level which may impact landspreading of sludges in Ireland.
David Gahan
David is the Contracts Manager for the Company. He has a degree in Agricultural Science which he followed up with a Masters. As the Contracts Manager, David manages the Nutrient Management Planning division, Transport, Spreading and Storage of the Organic Fertilisers.
David, and indeed all SEDE Ireland technical members of staff are Advisors for Farm Health and Safety and also (cc-FAS) Cross Compliance Farm Advisory Service Approved Advisors from the Department of Agriculture. David completed FETAC courses in Crop Nutrient Management Planning and an energy Crop Management.
John Woods
John is another member of the technical staff that started with SEDE Ireland in 2009. John has a degree in Agricultural Science that he obtained in 2005 from UCD. John has over 6 years Nutrient Management Planning experience. John oversees soil sampling, contact with farmers and Nutrient Management Planning.
John also completed a FETAC course in Crop Nutrient Management Planning.
Padraig Joyce
In 2012 and due to the development of its activities SEDE Ireland decided to recruit an additional technician. Padraig, is an agricultural graduate from UCD and has a strong farming background. Padraig will be in charge of the contact with the farmers and of the sales of fertilisers.
Bernie Doyle
Bernie is in charge of accounts and administration. Bernie liaises with customers and suppliers regarding any queries that may arise.
The SEDE Group
The SEDE Group is a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of the Veolia Environnement Group.
SEDE, created in 1979, has been concentrating its activities on the design and implementation of recovery or disposal solutions for by-products from industrial and urban origins. SEDE's professionalism has made the company the European leader in landspreading, dewatering and energy recovery of urban and industrial byproducts.
Accreditations
SEDE Ireland has ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 accreditations. SEDE Environnement has long engaged in quality management, which enabled the company to obtain ISO 9001 accreditation since 1999. In addition 17 sludge composting sites are currently certified ISO 14001.
Regulations
The European regulations relating to the disposal of sewage sludge revolves mainly around:
- The 86/278/CEE directive on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture
- The 91/676 CEE directive concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources
| Text | Content | Transposition into the Irish regulation | Impact on the sludge recovery conditions |
| Sludge Directive 86/278/CEE |
- Limit values for sludge, soils and heavy metals loads
- Treatment obligation
- Crops restriction
- Member states record keeping
|
SI 148 of 1998
SI 267 of 2001 |
- Sludge quality
- Landbank selection
- Data transfer to local authorities
|
| Nitrate Directive 91/676/CEE |
- Identification of polluted or threatened waters
- Designation of vulnerable zones
- Establishment of code of good practices
- Establishment of action programmes
- National monitoring and reporting every 4 years
|
SI 31 of 2014 |
- Storage capacity
- Nutrient management planning
- Period when spreading is prohibited
|
The Republic of Ireland has adopted regulations to ensure effective protection of the environment during disposal or recovery of sludge. This regulation deals primarily with:
- The SI No.148 of 1998 of the use of sewage sludge in agriculture (amended by the SI No. 267 of 2001)
- The Waste Management act of 1996
- The SI No.31 of 2014: good agricultural practices for protection of water
- The SI No.32 of 2010 : registration of sewage sludge facilities
| Text | Content | Impact on the sludge recovery conditions |
| SI 148 of 1998 | Conditions of use | - Sludge must be treated - Nutrient requirements of crops have to be taken into account |
| Limit values | - Heavy metals in sludge and soils - Maximum loads of heavy metals - Soil pH >6 |
|
| Sludge register | - Sludge quantity an quality - Contact details of sludge users - Location of the landbank |
|
| Waste Management Act | General duty of waste holder | Sludge disposal or recovery shall not cause environmental pollution |
| Collection and movement of waste | Waste collection permit is necessary for sludge haulage | |
| SI 31 of 2014 | Prevention of water pollution | - Determination of buffer zones to protect sensitive area - Sludge spreading is forbidden in certain weather conditions - Definition of spreading period |
| Nutrient balance | - Maximum organic nitrogen is limited to 170 kg/ha - NMP to be established and records kept on the farm holding - Definition of fertilisation rates |
|
| SI 32 of 2010 | Establishment of sewage sludge facilities register | - Registration of any storage facility - Specific requirements regarding the protection of the environment shall be issued by local authorities - Records shall be kept by the operator |