New waste incinerators will only receive planning approval if they meet “strict” new local and environmental conditions, the UK Government has announced.
Under new plans, projects must maximise efficiency and support economic growth, net zero, and the move to a circular economy.
Developers will also have to demonstrate that their projects will help lower the amount of non-recyclable waste sent to landfill, or enable the replacement of older, less efficient plants.
As part of the new standards, new Energy-from-Waste (EfW) plants will need to be built Carbon Capture ready and show how they will use the heat they produce.
This includes plants that produce fuels that can be used to decarbonise other sectors, such as aviation.
For far too long, the nation has seen its recycling rates stagnate and relied on burning household waste…
Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said: “For far too long, the nation has seen its recycling rates stagnate and relied on burning household waste, rather than supporting communities to keep resources in use for longer.
“That ends today, with clear conditions for new EfW plants – they must be efficient and support net zero and our economic growth mission, before they can get the backing needed to be built.
“This is another vital step on the pathway to a circular economy, where we reduce waste to landfill and boost the economy, while also ensuring those facilities maximise the benefits to communities.”
Defra publishes modelling of new reforms
According to a new analysis published by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), the new requirements will not negatively affect the UK’s capacity to process waste and should decrease the amount sent to landfill.
The residual waste infrastructure capacity note also says it is “highly unlikely” waste incineration plants not under construction if sufficient waste volumes cannot be secured via contracts to make a proposed development financially viable, even if they have already been consented.
Reacting to the analysis, Dan Cooke, CIWM Director of Policy, Communications & External Affairs, said: “CIWM welcomes the Residual Waste Infrastructure Capacity Note as useful analysis and clarification.
“It sets out the government’s clear intention to move toward a more circular economy, and also recognises the important role of EfW.
“It should help to ensure a robust planning framework that delivers only highly efficient and carbon capture-ready EfW facilities, and that limits the potential for over-capacity in EfW capacity in England, aligning with higher recycling and circular economy ambitions.”
CIWM welcomes the Residual Waste Infrastructure Capacity Note as useful analysis and clarification.
Defra said that while it wants to “minimise” waste incineration, EfW plants remain a better option than landfill.
The UK Government said it will explore how it can ensure new waste incineration plants are capable of exporting heat from day one and are incentivised to export heat as soon as possible after commencing operation.
Defra also published modelling that showed that England is on track to send less than 10% of municipal waste to landfill by 2035, at least in terms of residual waste infrastructure provision.
This is based on modelling the implementation of:
- Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging in 2025.
- Simpler Recycling for non-micro businesses in 2025, households in 2026, and micro businesses in 2027.
- Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers in 2027.
