Guidelines setting out how energy-from-waste facilities can move up the new legally-binding waste hierarchy from a disposal to recovery operation have been published today (July 1) by the European Commission.
The long-awaited document clarifies the calculation method for the R1 Formula the energy efficiency formula set out in the revised Waste Framework Directive which both the government and plant operators can use to work out the efficiency of a facility.
This means that, with the hierarchy now expected to be applied to all decisions on waste management, facilities reaching those thresholds could be a more attractive prospect, both for investors, planners and for councils and other waste producers deciding where to send their waste.
The document is entitled Guidelines in the interpretation of the R1 energy efficiency formula for incineration facilities dedicated to the processing of municipal solid waste according to annex II of Directive 2008/98/EC on waste.
Legal certainty
The Commission says that the guidelines are not legally binding, but are destined to provide legal certainty and a level playing field in the application of the energy efficiency thresholds for municipal waste incinerators. But the Commission notes that final decisions could be made by the European Court of Justice over precise definitions.
The guidelines confirm EfW plants built before January 2009 will need to reach or exceed an energy efficiency level of 0.60 while those permitted after that will need to reach 0.65 of the efficiency of other energy sources.
This situation has come under fire from environmental campaign groups, who claim that EfW facilities should not be allowed to move up the waste hierarchy unless their energy efficiency is the same as other energy sources (see letsrecycle.com story).
Welcome
However, the publication of todays guidelines was welcomed by the Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants (CEWEP), who claimed they would help to ensure the formula was applied in a more harmonised way, allowing for more legal and planning certainty.
CEWEP, which includes Waste Recycling Group among its 33 members, also claimed the guidelines would create a level playing field in the EfW sector Europe-wide.
Ella Stengler, the associations managing director, said: The aim of the energy efficiency criterion in the WFD to provide incentives to WtE plant operators for improvement of energy efficiency, thus saving fossil fuels and CO2 emissions is already being achieved as many WtE plants not yet reaching the energy efficiency threshold are making considerable efforts to improve their energy efficiency.
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