The figures, within Environment Agency provisional statistics for January to June 2017, show there has been a small increase of 1.3% in tonnes of RDF sent abroad from England.
The latest trends in RDF exports signal a continuation of an overall leveling out in volumes dispatched from England. RDF exports have been expected to level as incinerators in Europe begin to reach capacity and more opportunities start to evolve in the domestic energy from waste market.
England
Over the course of the first six months of this year, England exported about 1.69 million tonnes of RDF, increasing from 1.67 million over the same time period in 2016.
In 2016, RDF exports in England rose to more than 3.2 million tonnes of material approved for export (see letsrecycle.com story).
England continued to export RDF mostly to The Netherlands, with 812,707 tonnes being received by the country, with Sweden following behind, receiving 313,006 tonnes.
[Corrected figures as of 5 October, apologies for any confusion caused – letsrecycle.com]: The draft EA figures show that in terms of individual contractors, Suez and Biffa were the major exporters of RDF. Suez exporting 251,384 tonnes, Biffa over 238,389 tonnes of material and Geminor followed with 153,142 tonnes.
N&P Alternative Fuels was also a significant exporter of RDF during the first six months of the year, at over 152,139 tonnes. London-based Seneca exported about 114,000, Andusia about 100,000 tonnes while FCC sent 95,000 tonnes.
Northern Ireland
Figures released by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency have shown an 8% drop in tonnes of RDF sent abroad.
In Northern Ireland, a total of 69,843 tonnes of RDF was shipped in 2017 – about 11,600 tonnes a month, compared to 75,987 tonnes of RDF sent abroad from January to June 2016.
In terms of market share, Sweden overtook Ireland as the largest recipient of RDF from Northern Ireland during the first six months of 2017 by a large margin, accepting 37,889 tonnes.
Ireland was the second largest recipient, with 9,946 tonnes of RDF accepted. Denmark and the Netherlands also received smaller amounts of RDF.
Overall, the Northern Ireland data showed that RiverRidge was the largest exporter of refuse derived fuel in Northern Ireland, with 29,382 tonnes sent abroad. The company exported additional tonnages through Wastebeater and Coleraine Skip Hire & Recycling as these companies belong to RiverRidge Holdings.
Northern Ireland’s Re-gen Waste exported 27,438 tonnes. Stobart Biomass and Irish Waste also exported RDF during the first six months of the year, with Stobart Biomass exporting 10,451 tonnes.
[Updated: 12:15, 4 October 2017]
Related links
International waste shipments exported from England
Export Records for RDF Shipped from Northern Ireland
RDF Conference
For an in-depth discussion on RDF and EfW, book your place at the RDF Conference, taking place on 23rd November at the Congress Centre, London. Visit www.rdfconference.com for more information
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