The delays are expected to worsen over the Easter bank holiday weekend.
The RDF Industry Group, which represents 33 organisations across the European waste-derived fuel supply chain, told letsrecycle.com it hoped the ongoing delays at Dover proved “short-term”.
While it said less than 5% of refuse derived fuel (RDF) exports from England leave from Dover, it noted there remained “various logistical challenges”.
Andy Jones, chair of the RDF Industry Group, said: “From a waste management, energy generation and climate change perspective, it is important that UK RDF continues to reach high efficiency combined heat and power facilities in Europe.
“The alternative is for more waste to be landfilled in the UK contrary to the Global Methane Pledge signed at the COP26 conference in Glasgow last year, which commits our government to continue to work with the industry to divert this waste from landfill.”
The Environmental Services Association, the trade association representing the private waste sector, told letsrecycle.com it was not aware of any serious disruption to waste exports due to delays at Dover, as most exporters used smaller ports such as Felixstowe.
However, it said it would continue to monitor the situation among its members.
Dover
Yesterday (13 April), the Port of Dover said traffic management tools remained in place as a precaution to manage freight flows throughout the Easter period as required.
Richard Ballantyne is chief executive of the British Ports Association, the organisation which represents ports facilitating 86% of the UK’s maritime trade, including all the main ferry ports.
He told letsrecycle.com that P&O Ferries’ vessels being temporarily out of service, an operator’s ship having a minor collision in the Port of Dunkirk, and the beginning of the Easter holidays had combined to cause the delays at Dover.
He said: “In the last week we saw a number of travellers facing delays, but measures are working and we understand that wait times are reducing.”
However, Mr Ballantyne added there was “no indication” how long the delays would continue.
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