Is waste incineration really the “dirtiest” form of energy, as the BBC claims? While the headlines make it sound alarming, there is more to this than you may think.
In our latest blog, I’ll break down the facts on incineration and energy production, its impact on sustainability, and how we can focus on greener alternatives like waste reduction and reuse.
A shift from Landfill to Incineration
Historically landfill was the primary option available for residual general waste and the governments Landfill Tax, was increased annually from 1997 to reduce reliance on this route and prompt change. During the following decades, investment in Waste to Energy (EFWs) incinerators took place and tonnage to landfill declined as a direct result. There are now around 60 EFWs in the UK, which process largely non-hazardous household and business residual general waste.
As the general waste is burnt the heat is used to generate steam to turn a turbine, to generate electricity to feed back into the grid. According to Tolvik’s 2023 UK Energy from Waste Statistics report, waste to energy incinerators (EfW’s) provided 3.1% of the UK’s power generation in 2023, providing on average around 605 kWh of energy per tonne of waste incinerated.
Incineration vs. Coal: Are the Emissions Comparable?
It is true that the carbon intensity of European Incinerators is greater than the emissions derived from the average EU electricity grid. However, it is important to note that EFWs primary function is not energy production as per the coal fired power station mentioned in the BBC article, but to support the disposal of non-recyclable waste streams within the UK, with energy production being secondary benefit of the process. It is reported that around 12 UK EFWs also supply heat directly to local homes and businesses in District Heating Schemes which helps to increase the overall efficiency of the facilities.
The report also did not take account of the emissions avoided by using incineration instead of landfill. An independent report produced by consulting engineers Fichtner, in 2021, estimated that EFW saves approximately 200Kgs of CO2 for every tonne of waste treated compared with landfill.
EFWs are fitted with abatement technology and are robustly regulated in the UK by the Environment Agency, with requirements to meet strict emissions parameters and proactively report any breaches.
What’s Changing?
Currently many councils do not collect a range of plastics or food waste from households for recycling and these waste streams contribute significantly to incinerator fossil and biogenic emissions. However, imminent government policy changes via the Simpler Recycling reforms, due for implementation in 2025 and 2026, will bring about the requirement for food waste collections by all councils and a more consistent collection of plastics for recycling, to remove these from the household residual waste destined for EFWs.
Axil’s Approach to Avoiding Incineration Emissions
Incineration is not prioritised by Axil, who fully adopt the waste hierarchy, and our focus remains on proactive collaboration with our clients at the top of the waste hierarchy. This focus prioritises practices that prevent or reduce waste, reuse, repair, redistribute, and recycle.
Our solutions always propose Anaerobic Digestion of catering waste and recycling of plastics, to ensure they do not go for unnecessary incineration. By working together to identify the opportunities, waste to incineration is minimised, thereby also limiting contribution to waste related emissions.
Gina Rudkin
Head of Sustainability & Zero Waste