Veolia urges Defra to back food waste collections

Recycling firm Veolia Environmental Services is calling for food waste collections to be rolled by every council in the UK, in its waste management manifesto launched today (October 10).

The manifesto, the third published by the company, is titled Making Sustainable Cities a Reality, and outlines Veolias stance on waste policy in the UK, with a focus on waste management in urban areas.

In it, the company urges the government to encourage every council in the UK to introduce food waste collections to tackle the estimated 7 million tonnes of food waste sent to landfill each year.

According to Veolia, if half of this waste was collected across the UK and treated in anaerobic digestion or in vessel composting facilities it could generate around 700,000 MWh of electricity per year.

The manifesto also highlights its support for commingled collections of dry recyclables, which it claims is the most effective and most efficient method of collecting waste, particularly in towns and cities.

Commingling

The governments stance on commingled collections has come under attack from reprocessors who launched a Judicial Review claiming that it is a legal requirement under EU law to introduce separate collections of recyclables.

The Judicial Review was ended after amendments to legislation laid in July appeared to draw a line under the dispute (see letsrecycle.com story), but last month the claimants applied to re-launch their legal challenge.

However, in its manifesto, Veolia publicly backs commingled collections, claiming that the idea that waste streams must be collected separately is a myth.

According to the company separate collections are unnecessary and waste taxpayers money as materials like newspapers would still be contaminated with staples and inks if collected separately.

Veolia also claims that commingled collections are the preferred method of recycling for householders, and would result in greater participation levels if adopted nationwide.

Mixed plastics

Adding mixed plastic to recycling collections is among the other measures put forward in the manifesto, a move Veolia describes as the only way forward.

The company does acknowledge that investment will be needed in the sorting and recycling infrastructure that mixed plastic collections would require, but claims that it is investing in technology that will enable it to handle the huge variety of plastics in increasing quantities.

Veolia also calls for the government to introduce a tax on waste disposed of through incineration that does not meet the R1 Recovery Status and claims that energy-from-waste facilities that are subsidised but not meeting R1 criteria, are rewarding disposal instead of recovery.

Commenting on the manifesto, Estelle Brachlianoff, chief executive of Veolia ES UK, said: We believe the sustainable city dream must now become a reality. Businesses, local authorities and communities should now raise the bar as to what they recycle and understand more what they can do to turn their waste into a resource. This isnt a short journey but all these goals are within reach and will help the UK reduce carbon emissions year on year.

The manifesto also criticises the subsidy level offered in the in the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) which it claims is not sufficient to encourage significant growth in the UKs district heating capacity and calls for Quality Protocols to be developed for non hazardous waste streams before End of Waste status can be applied.