UK Energy from Waste - Don't Get Hurt By The Waste Hierarchy

Take care energy from waste people - Don't let the Waste Hierarchy Bite!

The topic today is the UK Waste Regs. and how important it is when planning a UK energy from waste project, not to "fall and get hurt by" the Waste Hierarchy!

Generating energy from waste, including anaerobic digestion - Gov.uk

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"Overview; Conventional technologies; Advanced conversion technologies; Environmental controls; Obstacles to energy from waste; Anaerobic digestion strategy ...https://www.gov.uk/generating-energy-from-waste-including-..." https://www.gov.uk/generating-energy-from-waste-including-anaerobic-digestion

The link above will take you to a new page which is a great starting point for anyone looking for an official page setting out the current requirements for compliance of new AD plants (and also feedstock changes to existing energy from waste facilities), with UK regulations and we recommend that those starting out to plan an AD Plant/ Biogas Plant in the UK will find this new page very useful.

It starts by explaining the current UK obligation for all energy from waste projects, which exists under the revised EU Waste Framework Directive to apply the waste hierarchy, before deciding on suitable EfW/ AD Plant feedstocks. Take care to consider this as it ranks waste management options in order of environmental preference.

The important point here is that you will need to be able to show that you have complied with the first priority of waste reduction, when you submit for a permit for any waste to energy project.

They point out that:

"Recovering energy from waste is only appropriate for waste that cannot be prevented, reused or recycled with less greenhouse gas emitted.

Energy recovery can be a sustainable option for waste that would otherwise go to landfill and create landfill methane emissions."

From which all AD and biogas plant project planners must realize that they mean that you will have to be able to show that suitable actions have already been taken to follow the heirarchy, and that is usually BEFORE it arrives as your feedstock. In most cases this will not be difficult, and the main action will usually be to obtain evidence that your feedstock source organisation has applied the waste hierarchy before the waste arrives at your energy from waste plant.

Nevertheless, this is an important step in obtaining UK permits, and it is easily missed.

Remade to Offer £25k Cash for Scottish Pilot to Study EfW Heat Use

The Scottish Government looks for pilot plant looking at heat use from EfW plants.

The Scottish Government under its ‘Remade Scotland’ programme is going to make an award of £25,000 towards a pilot plant looking at heat use from EfW plants. Do you have a suitable plant to apply with an expression of interest?

The Scottish Government have asked Caledonian Environment Centre (CEC) as part of its Remade Scotland programme to manage a tendering, evaluation and funding award project for a pilot on heat use from Energy from Waste plants (EfW). This project was suggested by the Zero Waste Think Tank for Scotland.

It is expected that suitable projects will contribute to the flexible development of waste heat use from EfW plants in line with Government policy to ensure EfW systems recovery energy efficiently.

Specifically the project will look to cover a number of factors or issues including:

* Technical evaluation
* System optimisation
* Scale-up costs
* Barriers
* Energy recovery – heat capture and transfer efficiency
* Innovation

There are no technology restrictions for funding although it must be for a pilot project of heat recovery and from an EfW or Waste to Energy (WtE) plant, thermal or non-thermal, including landfill gas and composting. Deliverables from the pilot will include a publicly available report from the successful applicant detailing the outcomes from the defined project criteria. Funding is only available for pilot projects based in Scotland.


Remade Scotland, if you have not yet heard, is a major initiative which seeks to stimulate, develop and strengthen recyclate material markets in Scotland.

Supported by the public and private sector in a unique partnership, the Remade programme - the first of its kind in the UK - was launched in 1999. The Programme has been assisting both Local Authorities and the Waste Industry for nearly 10 years providing successful, cost effective and sustainable solutions. Well aware of the importance of others players such as community groups to further develop recyclate material markets, Remade Scotland also works with and provides guidelines to several of these organisations.

As part of the Scottish Government's Zero Waste Initiative, in partnership with two other delivery programmes, SWAG and WRAP, Remade Scotland has agreed a three programme of support to help Scotland achieve ambitious recycling targets.

For more information Go to the Remade News section.