Warning issued that EfW closures causing RDF bottleneck

The RDF Industry Group has cautioned that the outages are happening at a time when the wider Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) supply chain is constrained.

It added that the disruptions are significantly impacting the ability of RDF producers to manage supply chains effectively, with consequences for operational efficiency and environmental outcomes.

Adrian Irvine, chair of the RDF Industry Group Operations Working Group and director at ReGen, said: “The current pattern of outages is putting immense pressure on RDF producers, already struggling with constrained supply chains.

“Interrupted waste movements are not good for anyone. We need better communication and planning across the sector to ensure continuity and resilience.”

The group has urged decisionmakers, including regulators and EfW operators, to engage in dialogue and develop policies that reflect the operational realities of the sector.

Uncoordinated closures

At a recent meeting of the RDF Industry Group’s Operations Working Group, members reported that simultaneous planned outages at multiple UK EfW facilities are compounding the issue of European off takers reducing their demand.

RDF producers tend to rely on domestic UK EfW and facilities in northern Europe to provide the ultimate treatment at the end of their complex supply chains.

The reduction in demand is due to several factors including an unusually warm winter reducing the demand for heat.

The lack of coordinated closures has resulted in bottlenecks in the system, delaying the return of bonds and forcing some producers to turn back to landfill.

In response, the Environment Agency (EA) recently temporarily allow some waste sites in England to exceed their permitted storage limits.

However, the group’s members stressed that this is not a sustainable solution and called for more proactive coordination among EfW operators.

Irvine added: “There is a clear need for facility operators to stagger planned outages and improve communication with RDF producers.

“We must work to coordinate together across the whole market to avoid situations where producers are left with no viable treatment outlet for their material.

“As things stand, we face a significant increase in waste being landfilled in the UK over the coming months.”