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IRM vs IRR
In 2009 BC's Ministry of Community and Rural Development launched a
document entitled "Resources From Waste: Integrated Resource Recovery
(IRR)". Stephen Salter and Jon O'Riordan were
involved in drafting and the province decided to use the term
Integrated Resource Recovery rather than Integrated Resource Management. There has been some resulting confusion about the terms,
which we wish to clarify.
Broadly speaking, there are strong similarities. IRR contains
much of the principles of IRM. IRR uses the same base subset of
approaches to resource recovery. The IRR document lists most of
the technology and concepts in IRM. The following however lists the main differences:
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IRM focuses strongly
on the integrated business case and valuation of resource recovery,
because this is pivotal to optimising benefits and net value.
The focus in IRM is the net highest and best use and value. IRR mentions this but
has les emphasis on the importance, how it is achieved, measured
or undertaken;
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IRM emphasises more
strongly governance
and the need to address integration with community needs and statute,
since this affects IRM topography and thereby, value. IRM has an
enhanced emphasis on ecology and the environment, and the governance
implications of this;
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IRM includes a
procurement dimension consistent with the single taxpayer, i.e. it
includes a structured approach to outsource partnering if this is
desirable. Since IRM is a profit-oriented solution and given
public sector financial pressures this has special importance;
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IRM places emphasis on
mapping and quantifying externalities. This is because these have the
potential to either increase value or, if they are not internalised, could
increase environmental impairment, creating latent risk and liability, thus
affecting value.
More differences exist than those listed above but not all will apply to the
same degree, in any
given IRM implementation.
While Fidelis is committed to an IRM approach and believes it has superior
benefits in business case management, this does not invalidate an IRR
approach, which is essentially a subset. Resource recovery is a sound ethic whether optimised through an
IRM approach or not. |
