Citing new research from Dr Dominic Hogg of Eunomia Consulting, the group claims that “a standard British waste to energy incinerator produces more carbon dioxide from fossil fuels (such as plastics in rubbish) than a gas-fired power station”.
” The government and waste industry must stop peddling the myth that waste incineration is green energy. “
– Dr Michael Warhurst, FoE
The attack came in the final week of Defra's major public consultation on England's long-term waste strategy (see letsrecycle.com story).
Defra's strategy suggests the role of energy-from-waste in diverting household waste from landfill is set to increase in the next two decades from the current position treating about 9% of household waste up to about 29%.
Friends of the Earth criticised both the government and the waste management industry for “peddling the myth that waste incineration is green energy”. It hit out at three firms – Veolia Environmental Services, SITA and WRG – for stating on company literature that recovering energy from waste generates “renewable” or “green” energy.
It said the situation would get “worse in the future, as power generation from gas (and even coal) becomes more efficient, whilst carbon dioxide emissions from incinerators are predicted to increase due to a higher percentage of fossil-fuel containing plastics in the waste they burn”.
“Myth”
The group claimed that standard waste-to-energy incinerators Friends of the Earth's Senior Waste Campaigner, Dr Michael Warhurst said: “The government and waste industry must stop peddling the myth that waste incineration is green energy. Incinerators can generate electricity, but they produce more climate emissions than a gas-fired power station.”
Friends of the Earth's new criticisms of incineration also came just days after a report from Defra on its plans for developing energy-from-waste in the UK. Responding to recommendations from the Biomass Task Force, Defra said it intended to mount an awareness campaign regarding energy-from-waste and also develop markets for using refuse-derived fuel.
But Dr Warhurst said: “The Government must make it clear that they will not support the building of such polluting plants. Using these incinerators to produce energy will undermine Government attempts to tackle climate change. Ministers must back truly renewable energy sources instead.”
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Dr Hogg's research, which was commissioned by Friends of the Earth, compares the social costs of greenhouse gas emissions from a range of residual waste treatment processes.
It suggests that landfill is by far the most damaging form of treatment unless more than 75% of landfill gas is recovered – in which case it compares on a level with incineration. Mechanical biological treatment (MBT) generally compares slightly more favourably than incineration or landfill – unless residues are incinerated.
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