ADBA’s Response to UK Government’s Consultation on Emissions Trading Scheme Scope Expansion: Waste
On 2 August 2024, we submitted our response to the UK government’s consultation on the ‘UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) Scope Expansion: Waste’. Our feedback emphasised the critical role of anaerobic digestion (AD) in achieving the UK’s decarbonisation goals, waste management, and circular economy.
Prioritising AD in the Waste Hierarchy
We strongly advocate for prioritising AD within the waste hierarchy, especially for organic waste. AD not only reduces emissions from rotting food and farm wastes but also produces low carbon biofertilisers and green gas, contributing significantly to the UK’s carbon reduction efforts.
Concerns About Incentivising Incineration
Whilst we support the inclusion of waste incineration facilities in the UK ETS, we caution against policies that might unintentionally encourage incineration over more sustainable alternatives. We stress that incineration should not be seen as the end goal for waste management, especially for organic waste that could be more efficiently processed through AD.
Promoting Better Waste Separation
We emphasise the critical need for improved waste separation, particularly for organic waste. This approach aligns with future requirements for separate food waste collection and reinforces our view that AD serves as an efficient recycling method. Better and enhanced separation ensures that organic waste is diverted to AD facilities, maximising both energy recovery and nutrient recycling.
Supporting Advanced Conversion Technologies
For non-recyclable wastes, we recommend using advanced conversion technologies (ACTs) to produce recycled carbon fuels. This approach presents a more sustainable and preferred alternative to simple incineration, as it extracts higher value from waste materials and contributes to a circular economy.
Cautioning Against Perverse Incentives
We caution against providing additional incentives for heat offtake from Energy from Waste (EfW) plants through the ETS. Such incentives could entrench reliance on EfW combustion plants, which we do not view as a sustainable long-term solution. Instead, we propose that all heat sources should be treated equally under the ETS.
Emphasising the Multiple Benefits of AD
Throughout our response, we emphasise the comprehensive benefits of AD. These include providing inter-seasonal energy storage, supporting local energy security, and contributing to a circular economy through the production of biofertilisers.
In conclusion, we see the expansion of the UK ETS to the waste sector as a valuable opportunity to reshape and redefine our approach to waste management practices. By prioritising AD and other advanced technologies, we can develop a more sustainable, low-carbon waste management system aligned with the UK’s net-zero ambitions.
ADBA remains committed to collaborating with the government and industry partners to develop and implement effective, sustainable waste management solutions that maximise carbon reduction and resource recovery.
The post ADBA’s Response to UK Government’s Consultation on Emissions Trading Scheme Scope Expansion: Waste appeared first on Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association.