The UK Without Incineration Network (UKWIN) has called on the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) to introduce a moratorium on new waste incineration facilities in the UK.
In a 15-page letter to the NIC, UKWIN said the investigation into infrastructure capacity requirements must “accept that we have reached the end of the line when it comes to building new incineration capacity in the UK”.
UKWIN called for a stop to future EfW plants (pictured: site construction of the Ferrybridge EfW facility)
“Rather than deciding how best to site new waste incinerators the NIC should work on the basis that a moratorium on new waste incineration capacity is necessary to support a circular economy,” the submission read.
It added: “Additional incineration capacity is not needed, does not merit being supported or underwritten by the public purse, and should be actively avoided. There is a genuine risk that exacerbating incineration overcapacity could further undermine efforts to deliver much-needed infrastructure relating to the higher tiers of the waste hierarchy.”
Best value
The moratorium calls comes as a study is underway for the Infrastructure Commission which aims to “identify the best value infrastructure investment strategy, weighing the costs of separation and different treatment/disposal pathways against the economic, environmental and social benefits” (see letsrecycle.com story).
This study is being carried out by consultancy Anthesis. The period for submitting evidence to the company has now passed, and currently all evidence is being looked at ahead of the final report due this summer. It’s believed the waste management industry will hold different views to that of UKWIN.
Report
The final report will include a map of the UK waste system for the household, commercial and industrial sectors, as well as case studies of national and international best practice.
Shlomo Dowen claimed that the EfW model is “unsustainable”
A horizon scanning exercise on future technologies will also be included in the study, which will estimate the impact these technologies may have on waste arisings and waste infrastructure capacity.
Speaking of UKWIN’s submission, the company’s national coordinator Shlomo Dowen commented that it is “vital” that when considering future infrastructure needs, the UK plans for a future where the economy is more circular. Mr Dowen added: “Incineration is associated with the linear ‘make-use-dispose’ model and everyone agrees that this is unsustainable.”
EDM
A current Early Day Motion from a number of MP’s on the issue has so far gathered 18 MP signatures. The Motion called on the house to note that in the UK “there is now more waste incineration capacity built and under construction than it is forecast there will be genuinely residual combustible waste to burn”.
Signatories three from the Conservative party, nine from the Labour party along with single MPs from several other parties including Caroline Lucas of the Green party.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
