Residual Waste EFW

Residual Waste can be used as a feedstock for Energy from Waste (EfW) and Residual Waste is considered as partially renewable or a low carbon energy source as a result of the energy produced from the fraction of Residual Waste derived from Biomass that is considered renewable.

Residual Waste and Energy from Waste

Energy from Waste is the now the main method for dealing with this type of waste, with Landfill of Residual Waste being the least preferred method, as outlined in the Waste Hierarchy.

In 2018, the amount of residual waste that was sent to EfW processes in the UK increased by 5.6%, amounting to a total of 11.5 million tonnes being sent to 42 operational EfW facilities across the UK. This represents 41.8% of the total residual waste produced in the UK in 2018 (increasing from 39.5% in 2017). ‌

Historically, the UK has been very dependent on Landfill or Incineration without energy recovery for Disposal of Residual Waste. The landfill diversion targets set in the mid 1990s promoted EfW developments. The diversion of residual waste away from Landfill and into EfW processes reduces emissions of methane and pollution originating from Landfill sites and increases production of renewable energy.

England produced 12.5 million tonnes of Residual Waste from Households in 2016, and it is estimated that there will be an increase in EfW capacity for Residual Waste by 2 million tonnes/year by 2022 .

With the increasing social, economic and political drive to Prevent, Reuse and Recycle more waste, in line with the Waste Hierarchy and the Circular Economy the amount of Residual Waste is expected to decrease over time in the medium-long term. The exact magnitude of this reduction and the Residual Waste continuing to need to be delivered to EfW has been debated at length by different commentators over the last few years.