The annual report published today (16 May) has said that for the UK to achieve its net-zero emissions target it needs to decarbonise the waste sector and reduce the tonnage of waste treated at EfW plants without carbon capture and storage capabilities.
enfinium’s CEO Mike Maudsley said: “Installing carbon capture technology on energy from waste facilities can provide vital carbon removals to support net zero and help communities decarbonise. That is why we support the Commission’s call for an end to new energy from waste facilities without carbon capture, as well as further measures to increase recycling rates and remove plastic from the waste stream.”
Progress
Owen Michaelson, CEO of Encyclis, said: “The NIC’s progress update provides a timely reminder of the urgency of the UK’s decarbonisation programme and the need to accelerate investment in the necessary infrastructure.
“Our ambition is to prove carbon capture technology at commercial scale, in partnership with DESNZ, and create a pathway for other emitters across the country to follow. But the wider roll-out of carbon capture depends on having a pipeline network in place to move carbon around the country to permitted storage sites – and we need to start planning for that sooner rather than later.
“It is a major undertaking but as long as the importance of this national network is recognised, it can absolutely be done – just as it was in the 1960s and 70s when the country needed to get gas from the North Sea to every home and business property. This time, we don’t need every property connected, we just need to link up the larger industrial clusters, following the path of existing pipelines to enable appropriate transportation of carbon. Make that a priority and we massively improve our chances of achieving net-zero in the face of the very clear and present climate challenge the NIC refers to.”
Recycling rate
The report also has highlighted the stagnation of recycling rates, which have remained static at just over 40% since 2012.
It also revealed that the UK is increasingly relying on incineration, which it highlighted has limited advancements in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Despite “ambitious” long-term targets, such as achieving near-elimination of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill by 2028, England faces several challenges in waste management. According to the report, greenhouse gas emissions from the sector, which have fluctuated since 2016, now account for approximately five percent of emissions in England.
Recommendations
The recommendations put forth in the report encompass a range of measures aimed at “revitalising” the recycling system. These included the implementation of collection and packaging reforms, such as ‘simpler recycling’ initiatives, and the expansion of bans on single-use plastics.
Additionally, the provision of financial support to local authorities is deemed essential to bolster recycling rates, with households spending approximately £167 for local authority collected waste management in 2022-23, representing a 5% increase from the previous year.
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