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CIWM: ‘Clarity provided by government on residual waste’

The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has welcomed “the clarity” provided by the government’s Residual Waste Infrastructure Capacity Note.

Greengairs Landfill site in Scotland - Robert Murray (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The note was published earlier this week (30 December 2024) alongside the announcement of stricter standards for waste incinerator planning applications.

The note analysed municipal residual waste arisings and infrastructure capacity in England from 2020 to 2035. It found that the new requirements will not “negatively affect the country’s capacity to process waste and should decrease the amount sent to landfill”.

It is the first time such an analysis has taken in consideration of the incoming packaging and collections reforms.

The note also offered guidance regarding future planning decisions and potential policy and regulatory development to ensure that the risk of over-capacity in energy from waste (EfW) incineration facilities is minimised, and that a more circular economy is incentivised.

The CIWM warned that the note shows that there are clear current regional shortfalls of available capacity for residual waste treatment, notably in the East Midlands and East of England.

Additionally, it highlighted that there are several local authorities which are over-reliant on landfill disposal.

The UK expects to landfill up to 10% of all municipal solid wastes until 2035.

Additionally, the note highlighted the role played by EfW incineration in safely managing persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The CIWM added that this element of incineration is “increasingly important” and “often-overlooked”.

Dan Cooke, CIWM director of policy, communications and 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.”

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