“Experimental” statistics on the carbon impact of waste from households in England show that while there is a general declining trend, they increased in 2020 during the pandemic.
The new figures released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), show emissions from England’s household waste collected by local authorities in 2020 increased by 0.5 million tonnes CO2e to -0.5 million tonnes CO2e.
Defra says increase was due to the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting waste collections at kerbside and HWRC’s and increasing tonnages of residual waste generated in the home.
Total or overall emissions from waste from households are the sum of emissions from waste management by landfill, energy from waste, composting or anaerobic digestion of organics and recycling. In these statistics changes are driven by the weight of waste collected and changes in waste treatments.
Defra says these statistics estimate the impact, in terms of carbon emissions, from different waste management options for waste from households managed by local authorities in England.
The figures are estimates of the impact of different materials contained within waste following treatment by recycling, incineration for energy from waste (EfW), and landfill.
The figures, which are consumption based estimates, are “very much a work in progress and methodology and outputs and will be updated in future editions of this notice,” Defra says.
Key figures
The figures show that total waste from households was 22.8 million tonnes in 2016, decreasing over the years to 22.1 million tonnes in 2019.
Total emissions from waste from households in England (see table above) were at their highest in 2016 at -0.4 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) and at their lowest in 2019 at -1.1 million tonnes CO2e.
Emissions in 2020 increased by 0.5 million tonnes CO2e to -0.5 million tonnes CO2e. This increase was due to the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting waste collections at kerbside and HWRC’s and increasing tonnages of residual waste generated in the home, according to Defra.
Emissions from separately collected food waste have decreased from -23 thousand tonnes CO2e in 2016 to -33 thousand tonnes in 2020
Residual waste emissions from landfill have decreased from 1.8 million tonnes CO2e in 2016 (from 3.7 million tonnes of waste) to 0.9 million tonnes in 2020 (from 1.7 million tonnes of waste).
Residual waste emissions from EfW have increased from 2.2 million tonnes in 2016 (from 9 million tonnes of waste) to 2.7 million tonnes CO2e (from 11.0 million tonnes of waste).
Emissions from separately collected food waste have decreased from -23 thousand tonnes CO2e in 2016 to -33 thousand tonnes in 2020.
Emissions from other organics (garden and mixed garden and food waste) over the years are steady at around 240 thousand tonnes CO2e. Changes between years are a result of climate and growing conditions. They were at their lowest point in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic affected collections.
Dry recycling emissions across the years are steady at around -4.6 to -4.8 million tonnes CO2e. They decreased to -4.2 million tonnes in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted waste collections.
These estimates of carbon emissions have been produced using factors produced for Defra by WRAP.
Measuring performance
John Scanlon, chief executive officer for SUEZ recycling and recovery UK said: “Weight based metrics served the sector well in shifting waste away from landfill, but are not effective in supporting the transition to a more resource efficient, circular economy, where we drive down waste and increase reuse and recycling, keeping precious resources in use for longer.
“How we measure performance in managing waste has a significant influence on the treatment methods used, and at SUEZ we were exploring alternative metrics to weight, including carbon, as far back as 2015, in our At this rate report.
“Whilst it may have taken longer to reach this point than we hoped when publishing our 2018 manifesto, the publication of these experimental statistics today marks a step in the right direction towards measuring performance in managing England’s household waste according to the best outcome for our environment. Although the approach will need to be refined, these initial figures highlight how far we have already come and the potential environmental gains to be had from improved resource efficiency and reduced consumption, that will support the UK on its path to net zero.
This data set also looks beyond our borders by accounting for the residual household waste we export, recognising and taking ownership of the carbon impact of our household waste, wherever it is treated.
“When considered alongside the much-anticipated detail of reforms to EPR and collections, the data will support continued investment in the current and new generation of infrastructure for managing the UK’s waste, with net zero and resource efficiency at its core.”
On the detail, Stuart Hayward-Higham, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK’s technical development director said: “From a first look, we’re pleased to see the figures recognise the significant carbon benefit of closed loop recycling. On landfill, it looks like the carbon burden may be understated as the impact of replacing the resources lost to landfill hasn’t been accounted for and it looks like the protocol used for methane considers its long term impact, rather than its far higher short term impact on climate change.
“This data set also looks beyond our borders by accounting for the residual household waste we export, recognising and taking ownership of the carbon impact of our household waste, wherever it is treated.
“At this point in time, some key pieces of the puzzle are missing – Government hasn’t been able to account for the burdens or benefits of waste prevention or include any commercial waste streams, and when this is incorporated we will have a more complete picture. Equally, a lack of data on the carbon intensity of each activity per tonne of waste handled makes it difficult to fully draw conclusions but still overall, our understanding of the environmental impacts of managing England’s household waste is enhanced by these figures, which give a good foundation to build upon in future years.”
