EfW partnership to promote industry during critical year

Resource Recovery UK's Manifesto for a Sustainable, Circular Future was released today (12 June). In it, the five biggest UK energy-from-waste operators lay out the key steps that policymakers and industry must take in order to take advantage of 2023 as a ‘critical year’ for the sector. The manifesto says that decisions to be taken this year will 'impact the sector for decades'. The three key steps that it says are required are as follows:

1. A carefully sequenced expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to include waste incineration and EfW no earlier than 2028;
2. The creation of policies to support EfW facilities accelerating the decarbonisation of key industries and communities
3. And the boosting of EfW's contribution to the green economy.

Owen Michaelson, chair of RRUK and chief executive of Encyclis said: “It is vital that we increase recognition of the critical role energy from waste plays in recovering valuable resources from waste that is not recycled.

“2023 is an important year for our sector, with key policy decisions to be taken that will shape the future of waste infrastructure and wider decarbonisation pathways. Our industry stands ready to work with others to ensure the opportunity is not wasted.”

Jacob Hayler, Executive Director of the Environmental Services Association, added: “Energy from waste performs an essential function and is critical to our everyday lives. That’s why we’re pleased to support this important new initiative dedicated to championing EfW’s pivotal role within the wider waste management sector.”

Step One: Expanding the Emissions Trading Scheme

The UK Government is currently planning an expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to include a ‘cap and trade’ system that caps the total level of greenhouse gas emissions and creates a carbon market – to cover waste incineration (with no energy recovery) and EfW.

Step one advocates for the carefully sequenced expansion of the UK ETS to include waste incineration (with no energy recovery) and EfW no earlier than 2028.

In expanding the ETS, the manifesto highlights that ‘crucially’ the expansion must coincide with a ban on biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill, as well as measures to prevent both waste exports and landfill from becoming cheaper than EfW. Landfill taxation has worked to reduce waste sent for burial, but if it is not aligned to the UK ETS then the unintended consequence will be to incentivise landfill over recovery via EfW facilities.

Step Two: Accelerating decarbonisation of key industries

The partnership is also promoting the creation of policies to support EfW facilities in accelerating the decarbonisation of key industries and communities.

It also highlights that any future policies such as ETS must include carbon removals, creating new revenue for carbon-negative EfW facilities using carbon capture technology, and offer support to underpin the growth of heat networks in the UK, helping to provide reliable, cost-effective, low carbon heat to more homes and buildings.

The UK Government has started to recognise the role heat networks can play in providing local sources of low-carbon heat, which would otherwise go to waste. This heat can also be used to decarbonise critical industrial infrastructure as well as residential infrastructure which includes schools and hospitals.

Step Three: Boosting EfW's contribution to the green economy

Finally, industry stakeholders must take steps to recognise the potential for EfW to contribute to the green economy; providing critical infrastructure to be accounted for through the upcoming National Infrastructure Assessment and within the UK Green Taxonomy.

The manifesto says that by leveraging new technologies like CCS and hydrogen, and facilitating emerging carbon utilisation technologies, the EfW sector has the potential to make an even greater impact and contribution – attracting private domestic and foreign investment, driving sustainable growth and creating jobs.