Residual Waste
Residual waste is the term that encompasses all waste left over after all the Recyclable material has been separated out. Residual Waste is regarded as having too high an economic and environmental cost to further separate, outweighing any benefits created from further separation.
Residual Waste is often described as Black Bag Waste, but the definition above captures a wider definition. The macro DEFRA data[1] does not capture Residual Waste as a category, but the most recent publications by DEFRA[2][3] for England set out more detailed definitions in order to measure a target for the reduction in Residual Waste.
Residual Waste Measurement
The following categories/metrics of Residual Waste are used in different contexts the UK:
- Total Residual Waste
- Residual Waste excluding Major Mineral Wastes (MMW)
- Residual MSW Wastes
- Residual Local Authority Collected Waste
- Residual Waste from Households
Waste Types, Recycling, Recovery and Treatment Approaches Impact Residual Waste Outputs
The two schematics below show 4 primary residual wastes in grey.
For the purposes of most of the categories/metrics soils and major mineral wastes are excluded from residual waste reporting.
The type and volume of residual wastes are dependant upon the type of waste and treatment processes undertaken (C&D wastes for example are likley to produce process fines that are more soil-like in nature).
Schematic for Household, Commercial and Industrial Waste and Resultant Residual Wastes
Schematic for Construction and Demolition Waste and Resultant Residual Wastes
Types of Residual Waste
The three main categories shown the schematic above are futher sumamrised below. Residual Waste can contain a wide mix of materials such as plastics, paper and biodegradable materials such as food waste. Residual Waste can be considered a partially renewable energy source when used in Residual Waste EfW and Cement Kilns because a fraction (often up to around 50%) is considered renewable.
Black Bag Waste
Black Bag Waste has had recycling and recovery undertaken at source (for example at the business or the household) and the remaining 'residual waste' is often termed ‘black bag’ waste.
These wastes are predominantly defined under EWC code 20 03 01 and the main EWC-STAT code is 10.1 referred to as ‘household and similar waste’
SRF/RDF Waste Derived Fuels
Wastes that have been processed into a fuel for energy recovery can be to different specifications according to the desired use. Refuse Derived Fuel has a wide specification and Solid Recovered Fuel a tighter specification (the latter is often used in cement kiln facilities). A large proportion of this waste category has also been exported outside the UK since 2009.
These wastes are predominantly defined under EWC code 19 12 10 and the main EWC-STAT code is 10.3 referred to as ‘sorting residues’
Process Fines
Waste sorting and processing often produces a residue with a small particle size commonly termed ‘fines’ and is currently mainly sent to Landfill. The nature of this material, how it can be treated and the proportion that is combustible (and therefore suitable for Residual EfW) is open to some interpretation in the data.
These wastes are predominantly defined under EWC code 19 12 12 and the main EWC-STAT code is 10.3 referred to as ‘sorting residues’.
Residual Waste UK - Macro Tonnage Interpretation
The following graphs and notes apply a simple calculation to DEFRA data[1] to derive broad analysis of Residual Waste
| SED QUIS SAGITTIS | 22/23 | 23/24 | 24/25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SED SED PLACERAT EST | |||
| Quisque elementum velit | 84 | 82 | 79 |
| Eros pellentesque ornare | 237 | 241 | 241 |
| Phasellus eget mauris | 87.40 | 91.20 | 93.10 |
| Vestibulum aliquet ante in nisi | 112 | 118 | 121 |
| SED RHONCUS SEM | |||
| Vestibulum vel finibus dui | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Morbi finibus turpis ut | EfW | EfW | EfW |
| Vestibulum vel finibus dui | Low | Low | Medium |
| Morbi finibus turpis ut | 84 | 82 | 79 |
| PRAESENT IN ULLAMCORPER ENIM | |||
| Efficitur nulla eget | 42.1 | 43.8 | 44.2 |
| Ante in nisi consequat ultricies | 459 | 451 | 444 |
| Ed erat augue, elementum nec | Top 20% | Top 22% | Top 19% |
