The UK government will block new incinerators that do not help achieve environmental targets under regulations published this month.
But Labour’s new promises fall short of the previous Conservative government’s promise of a total ban.
Developers must demonstrate that their projects will help reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste going to landfills or replace older, less efficient incinerators.
technology
The move is part of the government’s efforts to increase recycling rates, which have accounted for around 45% of household waste since 2015.
Environment Minister Mary Creagh said: “For too long, America has had stagnant recycling rates and a reliance on burning household waste rather than helping communities use their resources for longer.
“Today marks the end of clear terms for getting new energy from waste plants. We must increase efficiency and support net zero and our economic growth mission before we can get the support we need to build.”
Developers must also ensure that incinerators are ready to use hitherto unproven carbon capture technologies and demonstrate how the heat they produce can help households reduce their heating bills.
influence
The government hopes that a ‘crackdown’ on new incinerators will reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and allow the country to process waste while only building a limited number of incinerators.
The Ministry of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the country has enough waste facilities to process non-recyclable waste, to the point where there is little need for new incinerators.
But the proposals fall short of plans included in the Conservatives’ 2024 manifesto, which pledged to ban new incinerators entirely due to “impact on local communities” and the reduced demand that comes with increased recycling.
This author
Christopher McKeon is a PA political correspondent. This article was edited by: ecologist employee.
