The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) called today for Government to do more to stimulate and support energy recovery from our wastes, after as much as possible has been recycled from it.

CIWM will call for the DTI to extend the list of eligible technologies under review of the renewables obligation to help stimulate the market in this area. The Institution also wants to see Government taking a lead in stimulating energy from residual waste through their review of the English Waste Strategy. CIWM’s Chief Executive Steve Lee points out that “classifying waste derived fuel as a waste triggers tougher emission standards for burning it than for coal - despite the fact that energy from waste could be cleaner.” CIWM is considering projects to explore how this can be achieved reliably and consistently in practice. 

CIWM welcomes the research announcement today from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) as a significant contribution to the debate on energy from waste (EfW).

Energy from Waste (EfW) is an established waste management option on the Continent and the UK lags well behind neighbour EU States when it comes to energy recovery from waste. The ICE’s findings that residual, commercial and industrial waste could provide 17% of UK electricity needs in 2020 demonstrates the potential for EfW to play an important role in meeting the UK’s 2010 Renewables Directive target.

Apart from the potential for energy production, CIWM fully supports well managed EfW plants as part of an integrated approach to sustainable waste management.  EfW is a proven method to deal with residual waste and can at the same time provide local sources of energy, closer to where the demand is.