Zero Waste Scotland’s Post

The “utmost care” is needed to ensure that plans to include incineration and Energy from Waste ( #EfW ) facilities in the Emissions Trading Scheme does not see waste “moving down the hierarchy” to landfill or exports, Environmental Services Association has warned🚨

📊 Figures recently published by the UK Government reiterate that landfilling refuse waste contributes to 90% of the UK waste sector emissions. 🌫 The waste sector as a whole accounts for 5% of the UK’s emissions. These emissions are predominantly derived from methane, a greenhouse gas which is 86 times more potent than CO2 over a 20-year period. Studies have shown that exporting waste for energy recovery and keeping it out of landfill, even over distances up to 9,000 km, has a net emissions benefit. 📉 In fact, according to the UN Environment Programme, the waste sector has “the largest potential in Europe” for methane emissions reduction. Therefore, a focus must remain on landfill diversion. 🤝 The most effective method for achieving this is to promote the consistent utilisation of EfW capacity, not only within the UK, but across the whole of Europe. The European Parliament has recognised this, and within the CEAP – Amendment 104, has called on the Commission to “define a common EU-wide approach for the management of residual municipal waste that is non-recyclable to ensure its optimal treatment”. 👉 For the article: https://lnkd.in/eU98vYDY 👉 For the Government report: https://lnkd.in/e9v2TQgS #RDF #SRF #alternativefuels #wastederivedfuel #refusederivedfuel #wastemanagement #energyfromwaste #EfW #WDF #landfill #methane #methaneemissions #GHG 

We’ve reached a significant milestone on the road to a #CircularEconomy, with the issuing of the first two operator licences under the Waste to Energy Scheme. Tony Circelli, Head of Recycling Victoria, has issued existing operator licences to Paper Australia Pty Ltd and Visy Industries Australia Pty Ltd to operate thermal waste to energy facilities. After waste avoidance, reuse, and #recycling, waste to energy is the final opportunity to get value from material that would otherwise go to landfill. Under the Waste to Energy Scheme, Recycling Victoria regulates and licenses operators to ensure they use only specific amounts and types of waste that would otherwise be destined for landfill. See more about the scheme on our website: https://lnkd.in/gActQ7HJ. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) Tony Circelli Grant Breheny Deb Cailes GAICD Lucy Barrow