The UK produces more waste per capita than any country apart from the US. Ultimately, we should be looking for ways to reduce the amount of waste we produce, however we must recognise that we will never be able to fully eradicate waste – this presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
The challenge is ensuring that as much of our waste is recycled as possible. The nettle has well and truly been grasped by Wales, who are able to boast their position as the top-performing nation in the UK and one of the world’s leading recyclers. Wales has overseen an increase from a rate of just 4.8 per cent in 1998-99, to a huge increase of over 60 per cent to 65.7 per cent in 2022/23.
However, there is an opportunity to better manage our waste that cannot be recycled.
Currently there are three main options for waste that cannot be recycled. It is either sent to landfill, processed at an Energy from Waste (EfW) plant in the UK and used to generate energy for the National Grid, or exported to another country for processing at an EfW plant there.
At FCC Environment, we believe that we should be onshoring as much municipal solid waste (MSW) – often referred to as refuse derived fuel (RDF) – as possible.
Last year, England alone exported 1.68 million tonnes of RDF, rising by 6.3% on 2022. Much of this waste is destined for Northern Europe, with Sweden importing 46%, The Netherlands 26%, and Denmark, Norway and Germany also being core importers.
All of this waste will have been used to provide energy, and in some instances heat - in our European neighbours’ countries rather than being used here, in the UK, to improve our domestic energy security. This is a missed opportunity.
Processing this non-recyclable waste here in the UK would have a variety of different benefits. It would improve our energy security, provide environmental benefits through reduce shipping, facilitate a more circular economy, create jobs and provide a needed boost to the economy, as it would save councils - many of whom are struggling financially - from spending large amounts of taxpayer money on exporting waste.
Without proper investment in our domestic waste processing ability, we will continue to miss the opportunity to recover energy from our waste, and let others reap the benefits instead.
