{"id":223679,"date":"2025-10-24T23:56:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T23:56:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/223679\/"},"modified":"2025-10-24T23:56:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T23:56:07","slug":"desnz-review-calls-for-plastic-cutbacks-in-efw-and-stronger-recycling-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/223679\/","title":{"rendered":"DESNZ review calls for plastic cutbacks in EfW and stronger recycling support"},"content":{"rendered":"

Commissioned by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the review<\/a>, led by former minister Alan Whitehead, set out how technologies such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and waste-to-energy carbon capture (WECCS) could help the UK achieve net zero.<\/p>\n

The report called for a \u201ccoordinated, long-term framework\u201d linking waste and GGR policy, warning that current policy remains fragmented between departments.<\/p>\n

It recommended an Office for Greenhouse Gas Removals to coordinate action across government and to bring together DESNZ, Defra and the Environment Agency under a single framework for waste-based GGRs.<\/p>\n

The review also urged Defra to update the waste hierarchy to formally recognise the role of carbon sequestration alongside energy recovery for non-recyclable waste.<\/p>\n

The government is expected to publish its formal response to the review later this year.<\/p>\n

Support for plastic recycling<\/p>\n

The review recommended that government should introduce measures to reduce the proportion of fossil-derived plastic going into EfW and instead build new domestic recycling infrastructure to handle that waste stream.<\/p>\n

Doing so would increase the biogenic share of waste entering EfW plants and therefore enhance their ability to deliver greenhouse gas removals when fitted with carbon capture technology.<\/p>\n

This recommendation comes at a time of instability for the plastics industry in the UK, following several facility closures such as Viridor\u2019s Rochester<\/a> and Avonmouth<\/a> facilities, and Vanden Recycling\u2019s Whittlesey<\/a> plant.<\/p>\n

Energy from Waste<\/p>\n

For EfW, the review pointed to a \u201csignificant and near-term opportunity\u201d to retrofit existing facilities with carbon capture technology, particularly those co-located near CO2 storage clusters.<\/p>\n

Analysis by ERM found that converting suitable EfW plants could capture up to 11.8 million tonnes of CO2 annually, of which 6.3 million tonnes would be classified as genuine GGRs due to their biogenic origin.<\/p>\n

If the entire UK EfW fleet were retrofitted with carbon capture and storage, the review estimated a potential capture of 20 million tonnes per year, roughly 11 million tonnes of which could count as greenhouse gas removals.<\/p>\n

Enfinium CEO Mike Maudsley commented on the findings: \u201cWe welcome Dr Whitehead\u2019s conclusion that high integrity carbon removals generated via waste to energy with carbon capture and storage (WECCS) are critical to helping the UK meet its net zero targets.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving trialled the UK\u2019s first WECCS pilot plant, we look forward to working with government to develop WECCS at a commercial scale over the coming years, starting with our Parc Adfer CCS project in North Wales.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Bioenergy and anaerobic digestion<\/p>\n

On bioenergy, the review urged ministers to prioritise GGR deployment based on UK sustainable feedstocks, particularly wastes and residue, rather than imported biomass.<\/p>\n

It called for an \u201curgent review\u201d of the economic case for extending support for waste-derived bioenergy, including waste wood, sawmill residues and poultry litter, especially after the Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) scheme ends in 2027.<\/p>\n

Richard Coulson, Chair of the WRA\u2019s Biomass Advocacy Group, said: \u201cThe message in the review is clear \u2013 if the government is serious about greenhouse gas removals and effective waste management, then it must look at providing transitional support for the waste wood biomass sector and fast-track non pipeline transport solutions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese plants have the potential to save 3.6 million tonnes a year of CO2 if retrofitted with GGRs, making a vital contribution to net zero, in addition to delivering renewable, baseload energy and providing an important environmental service.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut this potential can only be unlocked if the government supports the sector to transition to BECCs before it is too late, and these valuable assets are lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

The review also called for new policies to give predictable routes to market and financial support for anaerobic digestion (AD).<\/p>\n

It recommended that CO2 captured from biogas upgrading should be eligible for GGR support, arguing that AD could \u201csimultaneously address waste management and removal targets\u201d if adequately backed by government.<\/p>\n

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