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Carbon emissions from waste disposal are increasing due to the expansion of waste energy incineration plants, warned a coalition of activists.
By 2030, the government’s push to increase waste incineration will increase CO2 emissions by 10 million tonnes a year, mainly from burning plastics, the groups said. They argue that the growth of energy incineration from waste means that the UK will not be able to meet its net zero carbon emissions commitment by 2050.
The coalition, which includes Extinction Rebellion’s zero-waste group, Friends of the Earth, UK Without Incineration Network (UKWIN), Greenpeace and MP John Cruddas, says the expansion of waste incineration is increasing carbon emissions.
In an open letter to the prime minister, they are calling for a law requiring the waste sector to be decarbonized by 2035, similar to legislation passed in the Scandinavian countries and Finland.
Rembrandt Koppelaar, environmental economist and co-author of the open letter, said: “The UK will not be able to meet its net zero commitments unless the government intervenes in the waste sector.
“Without a change in government policy, we can expect the large-scale expansion of energy from waste incineration to lock us in on an additional 10 million tons of CO2.2 emissions per year by 2030, mainly from burning plastics. “
The amount of waste incinerated in the UK increased from 4.9 million tonnes in 2014 to 10.8 million tonnes in 2017-18 and is projected to continue to increase. Meanwhile, recycling rates have stalled and the UK is expected to miss its 50% recycling target by the end of this year.
Evidence presented to MPs last year suggested that areas that had increased levels of waste incineration had correspondingly lower levels of recycling.
The Guardian and Greenpeace revealed that incineration plants are also three times more likely to be located in the most deprived and ethnically diverse areas of the UK, raising concerns about the impact on air quality and the health of vulnerable people. .
There are 50 incinerators planned or under development in the near future.
Government figures show that in 2018-19 almost half (43.8%) of the waste collected by local authorities from households in England was burned, or 11.2 million tonnes. This increased from just over 12% a decade earlier, and meant that incineration overtook recycling and composting as the largest municipal waste management method.
Incineration rates in England ranged from less than 30% in the South East to almost 60% in London. In Wales, the incineration rates were 25.1%.
The government seems determined to go ahead with increases in waste incineration. In the December 2018 resource and waste strategy, published under Theresa May, the government said: “Incineration currently plays a major role in waste management in the UK, and the government expects this to continue.” .
Koppelaar said: “The last decade has seen rapid expansion of waste energy incineration capacity, which has already pushed the sector’s carbon footprint to 7.4 million tonnes. Last year, waste incineration resulted in 13% of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity generation, despite providing only 2.4% of the UK’s electricity. “
Dr Anne Velenturf, from the Resource Recovery from Waste academic research program, said: “Building power plants from waste now, when we need to decarbonize, is inconsistent with the Paris agreement and the UK’s legally binding net zero commitments. . Ministers need to consider whether the planned construction of incinerators meets climate obligations, otherwise the government effectively inhibits the decarbonization of the UK economy. “
The signatories of the letter request:
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a waste and resource sector law requiring zero carbon emissions by 2035, including energy emissions from waste incineration, in line with targets set by the governments of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden;
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a circular economy capital investment program to mobilize investment in infrastructure that will support the reuse, repair, remanufacturing and recycling of scrap steel, glass, paper and cardboard, plastics and biowaste.
