The government should introduce measures to reduce the proportion of plastic going to Energy-from-Waste facilities, a departmental review has recommended.
The review was commissioned by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and led by former Labour MP Alan Whitehead.
Conducted by the Independent Review of Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs), the review examined how technologies, such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and waste to energy with carbon capture and storage (WECCS), can contribute to the UK achieving net zero.
One of the standout recommendations is for the government to introduce measures to reduce the proportion of plastic going to Energy-from-Waste (EfW) plants through the establishment of plastic recycling plants in the UK.
The review also calls for an update to the waste hierarchy to include a ‘key role’ for carbon sequestration alongside energy recovery for non-recyclable waste.
Whitehead argues that it’s important that the waste hierarchy reflects the value that wastes can have as a feedstock in greenhouse gas removal processes.
“While it clearly would not be appropriate to seek to generate more wastes or recycle less,” the review says.
“It is important for the role of carbon sequestration to be recognised alongside, or even ahead of, the ability to generate energy from non-recyclable wastes.”
EfW will join the UK Emissions Trading Scheme from 2028, which a report by SUEZ estimates will increase costs by around 50%, with gate fees set to rise by approximately £48 per tonne.
While North London Waste Authority have said the UK Emissions Trading Scheme could add £35 million annually to waste disposal costs for north London residents.
Last month, a project to build an underground heat transmission main from an EfW plant in London was been designated as ‘nationally significant’ by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.