Incinerators: New plans to limit waste burning for energy

Ministers say fresh rules announced today will limit the development of new waste incinerators, which burn waste to generate electricity and emit harmful gases to the environment.

Less than half of all UK household waste is now incinerated, and a recent one BBC investigation It turned out that burning bin bags, which can emit large amounts of carbon dioxide, was just as bad for the climate as burning coal.

Now the government is proposing that new household waste incinerators in England can only go ahead if they meet strict requirements, such as ensuring they reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfill. Replace or replace older, less efficient incinerators.

Ministers hope that if recycling and waste reuse improves, the country will produce less residual waste in the coming years, and therefore less waste will need to be incinerated.

The announcement does not ban or suspend incinerators, such as those in Wales and Scotland, and those temporarily in place in England as early as 2024.

The plans have been cautiously welcomed by the industry, while some campaigners backing the change say it could lead to the end of new incineration developments.

Over the past two decades, governments have tried to limit the amount of waste going to landfills, because the planet-warming methane emitted from these sites is so harmful to the climate.

They have done this mainly by increasing the landfill tax that councils have to pay to bury waste.

As a result, local authorities across the UK have turned to large waste-to-energy incinerators, often built in deprived areas.

With 49% of waste now collected being incinerated, this is having a negative impact on the climate as increasing amounts of fossil fuel-based plastics are being dumped and burned, releasing huge amounts of carbon dioxide. Discharged.

Opposition is also growing in many communities across England where combustibles are made, with local residents concerned about health and environmental impacts.

In Runcorn, Cheshire, home of operator Weridor, Britain’s largest incinerator Paid a total of £1m to local families. who complained about noise, odor and other negative effects on their lives.

The new proposals, which the government calls a crackdown, would require future plants to reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill.

They will also need to demonstrate that they will be designed to capture carbon released during incineration and use the heat generated for local heating or industry. Currently, only nine of the 52 large incinerators in the UK export their heat in this way.

Circular Economy Minister Mary Craig said: “For too long, the nation has seen its recycling rates stagnate and relied on household waste incineration rather than helping communities to keep resources in use for longer. is.”

“It ends today, with clear conditions to get new energy from defunct plants – they must be efficient and support net zero and our economic growth mission – before they are needed to build. support.”

The new plan shows the UK is already close to capacity when it comes to the amount of waste we can burn and there is a “limited need” for future plants.

Today’s proposal includes estimates that the UK will have enough energy from incinerators to deal with 18.8 million tonnes of residual waste by 2035. The government believes the UK will need to manage just 17.6 million tonnes by 2042.

It also suggests that local concerns will be given more consideration when deciding on these new developments.

Government sources acknowledge that energy demand from waste incinerators will continue, particularly in areas of England where recycling infrastructure is not well developed.

But campaigners believe the government’s admission that there is already enough capacity to deal with it means it is unlikely any new incinerators will be built.

“It is clear that the era of waste incineration is over,” said Shlomo Down, national co-ordinator of the UK Without Incineration Network (UKWIN).

“We hope that the government’s latest announcement will lead to the abandonment of incineration schemes that are currently being proposed. This will free up funds to invest in higher levels of waste classification, including Creating many new jobs in the repair, reuse, redesign and recycling sectors.”