Energy-from-waste (EfW) facilities have received fresh guidance after WRAP laid out a new set of practical guidelines at RWM today (12 September).
The guidelines, announced by Mark Collinson from WRAP's Organics and Energy from Waste Team at RWM this afternoon, are aimed toward smaller businesses seeking to set up an EfW facility on a small scale, as a way to deal with their residual waste. While stressing the need to reduce, reuse and recycle before considering EfW, WRAP includes advice regarding feedstock, funding, planning, and other practical aspects of establishing and running an EfW facility.
"If we are to achieve a zero waste economy and meet our renewable energy targets, EfW has a valuable contribution to make. The waste hierarchy emphasises the importance of preventing, reusing and recycling waste before recovering energy from it. However, not everything can be recycled and recovering energy from unavoidable residual waste may be preferable to landfill", said Ian Wardle, Head of Organics and Energy from Waste at WRAP.
"While it is still a developing industry, this suite of guidance will help to build knowledge of EfW and provide clear and concise information to those businesses that are exploring EfW as a treatment option."
The new set of guidelines include topics such as:
- Potential sources of funding: such as the Green Investment Bank, and the EDF Energy Green Fund
- Planning: explaining the planning process including timescales, consultation requirements, and environmental impact assessments
- Environmental Permitting Regulations: guidance on what the regulations are and what they mean for EfW facilities
- Feedstock: issues that affect the accessibility, security and suitability of waste materials as fuel for EfW processes
- EfW outputs and residues: how to manage energy outputs and residues including air pollution control residues and incinerator bottom ash
- Waste Incineration Directive: the requirements of the Directive and the implications for waste wood biomass and smaller scale EfW
- Financial incentives: explains the financial incentives currently available to support renewable energy installations
For the entire document of guidelines, visit WRAP's EfW website.
Get our weekly digest
resource.co article ai
How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.