Energy from Waste Report Findings Welcomed

The reports, which have been carried out by leading environmental research consultants AEA and Jacobs, bring together key recommendations on the future of energy recovery in Scotland.

The Evaluation of Energy from Biowaste Arisings and Forest Residues in Scotland looks at the potential use of secondary and tertiary biomass, and highlights how organic waste can be used in the production of heat and power. The report demonstrates how diverting 9.6 millions of tonnes waste from landfill could create some 7,200 jobs and produce 11 million MWh of energy. The AEA report concludes that Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technology should be the principal consideration for energy generation from proposed Energy from Waste (EFW) plants. Consideration should also be made with regards to availability of local resources and local need.

Development of a policy framework for the tertiary treatment of commercial and industrial wastes was commissioned to explore and make recommendations on the range of options available for commercial and industrial waste processing in Northern Ireland and Scotland. The treatment options were evaluated by assessing both the technology and environmental costs. The Jacobs report makes 10 recommendations. The primary conclusion of this study is that energy recovery through combined heat and power systems either by anaerobic digestion or energy from waste is the preferred option for the tertiary treatment of commercial & industrial waste.

A further conclusion from the Jacobs report is the option for the use of landfill bans of particular materials to increase recycling. This would produce significant climate change benefits by reducing methane production as well as quantities of materials for composting, anaerobic digestion and thermal treatment. Furthermore, it would reduce the dependence on mixed waste incineration from commercial and industrial waste as companies respond to rapidly rising landfill tax costs.

John Ferguson, SEPA’s Strategic Projects Manager, said, “SEPA welcomes the findings of the AEA and Jacobs reports. Energy from Waste will play an increasingly important part in the sustainable management of Scotland’s waste. However, there is recognition that waste at any level has an inherent value and that value can be recovered through the generation of heat and power”.

“Preventing waste is still our principal priority in Scotland. While these recommendations provide a sound foundation for future planning for Energy from Waste facilities they acknowledge that waste prevention, reuse and recycling remain our first line of defence in tackling waste.”

The research from both reports has aided the review of SEPA’s Thermal Treatment Guidelines. The revised Thermal Treatment guidelines are due to be published in September 2008. They will be the cornerstone of SEPA’s policy on the thermal treatment of waste. The guidelines will ensure that thermal treatment in Scotland enables the recovery of energy efficiently and does not impede waste prevention and recycling.

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