Official Figures Mask Environmental Gains as Experts Call for a Holistic Approach to Waste Management.
The UK has witnessed a remarkable 73% plunge in greenhouse gas emissions from waste management between 1990 and 2020, according to the latest government data. Despite the apparent progress, the true impact of waste emissions reduction is obscured by a complex accounting system, leaving experts urging a comprehensive approach to waste management.
In 2000, the waste management sector accounted for 8.5% of the country's emissions; by 2020, it had dropped to 4%, totaling 17.6MtCO2e of 404.5MtCO2e. The achievements can be attributed to advancements in landfilling standards, a shift towards reducing biodegradable waste, and increased use of landfill gas for energy. Additionally, recycling efforts and decreased food waste, coupled with the rise of anaerobic digestion plants, have contributed to the positive trend.
However, a significant portion of historically landfilled waste now ends up in energy-from-waste (EfW) facilities. While government figures indicate that EfW contributed only 0.3MtCO2e, a mere 1.7% of waste treatment emissions in 2020, a substantial 95% of EfW emissions are accounted for in the 'energy' sector, not within waste sector emissions. This discrepancy raises concerns about the transparency of waste management practices.
Dominic Hogg, founder of consultancy Equanimator, highlights the flaw in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) accounting system, suggesting that it fosters indifference in waste management practices, encouraging a focus on diverting waste from landfills without considering broader climate impacts.
The debate over the environmental impact of incineration versus landfill continues, with a call for a nuanced perspective. While EfW is currently considered more environmentally friendly than landfill, experts stress that it is not a long-term solution compatible with net-zero carbon emission goals.
Recent independent reviews and recommendations from bodies like the UK's Climate Change Committee (CCC) emphasise the need to scrutinize EfW emissions within the waste sector rather than categorising them under 'energy.' Efforts to address this include making waste management more efficient, capturing more CO2, and minimising the burning of waste from fossil sources.
The Environmental Services Association (ESA) has developed a net-zero plan for the waste management sector, aiming for a transition to zero-emission vehicles, removal of organics from landfill and plastics from EfW, and investment in new recycling infrastructure. Recycling, particularly in a 'closed loop,' is identified as a significant contributor to emissions reduction.
As the UK moves toward achieving net-zero by 2040, the importance of resource efficiency is underscored. The role of recycling in emissions reduction is acknowledged, but experts argue for a more comprehensive focus on resource efficiency across various sectors. Long-term resource efficiency and waste reduction targets, alongside innovative recycling technologies, are essential components of a holistic strategy.
While recycling technologies such as advanced or chemical recycling show promise, their impacts and viability remain subjects of debate. The need for a paradigm shift towards circular thinking, reducing waste production, and reusing materials becomes imperative to address the "untold story" of embodied carbon impacts from material production, which remains a major contributor to overall emissions.
A message from our sponsors, The Ideas Distillery:
If you would like to look at how to implement an ISO 14001 environmental management system, then simply contact us.
Or, if you want to see what's involved in more detail, then get a completely free, no obligation, totally tailored ISO Gap Analysis for your business (only available to UK businesses).
Comments