Evaluation of the Climate Change Impacts of Waste Incineration in the United Kingdom

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Evaluation of the Climate Change Impacts of Waste Incineration in the United Kingdom UNITED KINGDOM WITHOUT INCINERATION NETWORK Evaluation of the climate change impacts of waste incineration in the United Kingdom October 2018 (Rev 1.01: April 2019) KEY FINDINGS Based on the data and methods set out in the report, the study found that: ▶ Waste incinerators currently release an average of around 1 tonne of CO2 for every tonne of waste incinerated. ▶ The release of CO2 from incinerators makes climate change worse and comes with a cost to society that is not paid by those incinerating waste. ▶ In 2017 the UK's 42 incinerators released a combined total of nearly 11 million tonnes of CO2, around 5 million tonnes of which were from fossil sources such as plastic. ▶ The 5 million tonnes of fossil CO2 released by UK incinerators in 2017 resulted in an unpaid cost to society of around £325 million. ▶ Over the next 30 years the total cost to society of fossil CO2 released by UK's current incinerators would equate to more than £25 billion pounds of harm arising from the release of around 205 million tonnes of fossil CO2. ▶ Electricity generated by waste incineration has significantly higher adverse climate change impacts than electricity generated through the conventional use of fossil fuels such as gas. ▶ The 'carbon intensity' of energy produced through waste incineration is more than 23 times greater than that for low carbon sources such as wind and solar; as such, incineration is clearly not a low carbon technology. ▶ When waste is landfilled a large proportion of the carbon is stored underground, whereas when waste is burned at an incinerator the carbon is converted into CO2 and immediately released into the atmosphere. ▶ Over its lifetime, a typical waste incinerator built in 2020 would release the equivalent of around 1.6 million tonnes of CO2 more than sending the same waste to landfill. Even when electricity generation is taken into account, each tonne of plastic burned at that incinerator would result in the release of around 1.43 tonnes of fossil CO2. Due to the progressive decarbonisation of the electricity supply, incinerators built after 2020 would have a relatively greater adverse climate change impact. ▶ Composition analysis indicates that much of what is currently used as incinerator feedstock could be recycled or composted, and this would result in carbon savings and other environmental benefits. Thus, incinerating waste comes with a significant 'opportunity cost'. Incineration Climate Change Report 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................... 5 CO2 RELEASED BY WASTE INCINERATION ......................................................................................................... 6 Background ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 CO2 released by UK incinerators in 2017 ................................................................................................... 7 The carbon price of waste incineration ..................................................................................................... 7 Table 1: Cost to society of fossil CO2 released from UK incinerators in 2017 .............................. 9 CARBON INTENSITY OF ELECTRICITY GENERATED ........................................................................................ 10 Background ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 Figure 1: Carbon intensity of electricity (gCO2/kWh) ....................................................................... 10 Carbon intensity from non-incineration sources ................................................................................. 11 Table 2: Emissions from low carbon sources, based on life-cycle analysis .............................. 12 Fossil carbon intensity of incineration .................................................................................................... 13 Table 3: Fossil carbon intensity of energy from UK incinerators ................................................. 13 Conclusions on fossil carbon intensity .................................................................................................... 14 COMPARING INCINERATION WITH LANDFILL ................................................................................................. 16 Table 4: Feedstock composition profiles ............................................................................................ 17 Figure 2: Tonnes of CO2e released by incineration and landfill ................................................... 18 Table 5: Relative net GHG impacts from a typical incinerator compared to landfill .............. 18 RECYCLABILITY OF INCINERATOR FEEDSTOCK .............................................................................................. 20 Figure 3: Municipal waste treatment rates for councils with above-average incineration ... 20 Acknowledgements Thanks: UKWIN is grateful to the Marmot Charitable Trust for their financial support to produce this report. Cover photo: Edmonton Incinerator, November 2010 Principal author: Josh Dowen Contributors: Shlomo Dowen, Ian Hammond, Tim Hill, Neil Pitcairn, Dr John Webb Report webpage: http://ukwin.org.uk/climate Incineration Climate Change Report 2 ANNEX A: CO2 PER TONNE INCINERATED ........................................................................................................ 25 Estimates for UK waste ................................................................................................................................ 25 Waste industry estimates for specific incinerators ............................................................................. 27 Calculating CO2 emissions per tonne of waste based on published UK sources .......................... 29 Table 6: Tonnes of CO2 per tonne based on published UK sources ............................................ 29 Calculating CO2 per tonne of waste based on Environment Agency data sets ............................. 30 Table 7: CO2 per tonne based on extracts from Environment Agency 2016 data sets ............. 31 Analysis of CO2 per tonne incinerated ..................................................................................................... 32 Table 8: Cost to society of fossil CO2 from waste incineration (2019-2049) .............................. 33 ANNEX B: DATA USED TO CALCULATE INCINERATION CARBON INTENSITY ............................................. 34 ANNEX C: RELATIVE NET CARBON IMPACTS OF INCINERATION COMPARED WITH LANDFILL .............. 37 Use of Defra's Carbon based modelling approach ............................................................................... 37 Table 9: Extract from BEIS Data Table 1: 'Electricity emissions factors to 2100' ...................... 39 Table 10: Base Case - Data set and calculations for incineration half of model ..................... 45 Table 11: Base Case - Data set and calculations for landfill half of model ............................... 46 Table 12: Base Case - Biogenic carbon sequestered in landfill .................................................... 47 Table 13: Base Case - Result formulas and calculations (Tonnes CO2e) ..................................... 48 Table 14: Base Case - Results (Tonnes CO2) ....................................................................................... 48 Table 15: Reduced Plastic - Data set and calculations for incineration half of model .......... 49 Table 16: Reduced Plastic - Data set and calculations for landfill half of model .................... 50 Table 17: Reduced Plastic - Biogenic carbon sequestered in landfill ......................................... 51 Table 18: Reduced Plastic - Result formulas and calculations (Tonnes CO2e) ......................... 52 Table 19: Reduced Plastic - Results (Tonnes CO2) ............................................................................ 52 Table 20: Reduced Compostables - Data set and calculations for incineration half ............. 53 Table 21: Reduced Compostables - Data set and calculations for landfill half of model ..... 54 Table 22: Reduced Compostables - Biogenic carbon sequestered in landfill .......................... 55 Table 23: Reduced Compostables - Result formulas and calculations (Tonnes CO2e) ........... 56 Table 24: Reduced Compostables - Results (Tonnes CO2) ............................................................. 56 Incineration Climate Change Report 3 THE IMPORTANCE OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND CLIMATE CHANGE The UK Government explains the issue as follows: Rising levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, such as methane, in the atmosphere create a ‘greenhouse effect’, trapping the Sun’s energy and causing the Earth, and in particular the oceans, to warm. Heating of the oceans accounts for over nine-tenths of the trapped energy. Scientists have known about this greenhouse effect since the 19th Century. The higher the amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the warmer the Earth becomes. Recent climate change is happening largely as a result of this warming, with smaller contributions from natural influences like variations in the Sun’s output. Carbon dioxide levels have increased by about 45% since before the industrial revolution. Other greenhouse gases have increased by similarly large
Recommended publications
  • Riverside Energy Park Design and Access Statement
    Riverside Energy Park Design and Access Statement VOLUME NUMBER: PLANNING INSPECTORATE REFERENCE NUMBER: EN010093 DOCUMENT REFERENCE: 07 7. 3 November 2018 Revision 0 APFP Regulation 5(2)(q) Planning Act 2008 | Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 Riverside Energy Park Design and Access Statement - Document Reference 7.3 Harry’s Yard, 176-178 Newhall St, Birmingham, B3 1SJ T: +44 (0)121 454 4171 E:[email protected] Riverside Energy Park Design and Access Statement - Document Reference 7.3 Contents Summary 3.4 Site Analysis 3.4.1 REP Site 1.0 Introduction 3.4.2 Sun Path Analysis 1.1 Introduction 3.4.3 Access 1.1.1 Cory Riverside Energy Holdings Limited 3.4.4 Site Opportunities and Constraints 1.1.2 Riverside Resource Recovery Facility 1.2 Purpose of the Design and Access Statement 4.0 Design Process 4.1 Overview of the Design Process to date 2.0 The Proposed Development 4.2 Good Design Principles 2.1 Overview 2.2 Key Components of the Proposed Development 5.0 Illustrative Masterplan 2.2.1 The Energy Recovery Facility 5.1 Introduction 2.2.2 Anaerobic Digestion Facility 5.2 Illustrative Masterplan Proposals 2.2.3 Solar Photovoltaic Panels 5.2.1 Illustrative Masterplan Proposal 1 - North to South - Stack South 2.2.4 Battery Storage 5.2.2 Illustrative Masterplan Proposal 2 - North to South - Stack North 2.2.5 Other Elements 5.2.3 Illustrative Masterplan Proposal 3 - East to West - Stack West 3.0 Site Overview 5.2.4 Illustrative Masterplan Proposal 4 - East to West - Stack East
    [Show full text]
  • St.Helens Local Plan Core Strategy Adopted by St.Helens Council on 31St October 2012
    LDF43E LocalSt.Helens Development Local Plan Framework CCoreore StrategyStrategy PublicationOctober 2012 Version – May 2009 St.Helens Local Plan Core Strategy Adopted by St.Helens Council on 31st October 2012. St.Helens Local Plan Core Strategy Foreword Foreword from St.Helens Local Strategic Partnership and the Cabinet Member for iii Urban Regeneration, Housing and Culture How to Use this Document v Introduction 1 Introduction 2 St.Helens Now 2 Context 14 3 Issues, Problems and Challenges 22 St.Helens in 2027 4 St.Helens in 2027 28 Regenerating St.Helens 5 The Key Diagram 36 6 Overall Spatial Strategy 38 7 St.Helens Core Area 48 8 St.Helens Central Spatial Area 54 9 Newton-le-Willows and Earlestown 62 10 Haydock and Blackbrook 78 11 Rural St.Helens 84 Achieving the Vision 12 Ensuring Quality Development in St.Helens 90 13 Creating an Accessible St.Helens 96 14 Providing Quality Housing in St.Helens 104 15 Ensuring a Strong and Sustainable St.Helens Economy 118 16 Safeguarding and Enhancing Quality of Life in St.Helens 126 17 Minerals and Waste 140 Appendices 1 Appendix 1: Delivery and Monitoring Strategy 146 2 Appendix 2: Bibliography 170 3 Appendix 3: Glossary of Terms 178 4 Appendix 4: Saved UDP policies to be replaced by the Core Strategy 192 St.Helens Local Development Framework St.Helens Local Plan Core Strategy Policies Policy CSS 1 Overall Spatial Strategy 38 Policy CIN 1 Meeting St.Helens' Infrastructure Needs 43 Policy CSD 1 National Planning Policy Framework - Presumption in Favour 44 of Sustainable Development Policy CAS 1
    [Show full text]
  • Sustainability Report 2018 2 Sustainability Report 2018 Cory Riverside Energy
    SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 2 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 CORY RIVERSIDE ENERGY CONTENTS Report highlights 3 About Cory Riverside Energy 5 Chair’s statement 10 CEO’s statement 11 Scope of the report 12 Governance and Materiality 14 Our sustainable business strategy 17 Our sustainability performance 21 Making london a more sustainable city 22 Our sustainability performance against priority areas 30 Our performance scorecard and future plans 40 Appendix 49 Report highlights In 2018, we established our sustainable business strategy to help drive performance across our business in line with five key priority areas aimed at: • supporting London’s circular economy by processing recyclable waste, enabling resource recovery from non-recyclable residual waste, and creating by-products for use in construction; • reducing the level of waste sent to landfill and exported abroad; and • partnering to increase awareness of recycling, the circular economy and the role of the River Thames for freight transportation. 4 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 CORY RIVERSIDE ENERGY REPORT HIGHLIGHTS Our sustainable business strategy seeks to improve BUSINESS INTEGRITY our operations to support London’s aims of becoming We have instigated a health and safety culture change programme a sustainable city, and support the nine United to reduce the incidents and accidents we have in our operations. Nations Sustainable Development Goals that we have We have increased awareness and understanding of modern identified as having the greatest ability to impact. We slavery and anti-bribery and corruption amongst employees and invite you to explore our 2018 sustainability report for our suppliers, through enhanced policies and procedures. a greater insight into Cory’s key priorities, which are At our energy from waste facility, we have remained fully compliant summarised below.
    [Show full text]
  • Landfill and Residual Treatment Capacity in the Wider South East of England Including the ➢ East of England ➢ the South East of England ➢ London
    Landfill and Residual Treatment Capacity in the Wider South East of England including the ➢ East of England ➢ the South East of England ➢ London for the East of England Waste Technical Advisory Body South East Waste Planning Advisory Group London Waste Planning Forum Final Report May 2021 with Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Context ........................................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Waste arising ........................................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Residual Waste Treatment Facilities ....................................................................................... 3 3 Recycling rates and targets ............................................................................................................ 5 4 Scope of the Report ........................................................................................................................ 5 4.1 Capacity of Waste Management Facilities .............................................................................. 5 4.2 Waste Arisings ......................................................................................................................... 6 4.3 London policy context ............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Cory Riverside Energy: a Carbon Case 2 | a Carbon Case CORY RIVERSIDE ENERGY
    Cory Riverside Energy: A Carbon Case 2 | A Carbon Case CORY RIVERSIDE ENERGY Carbon Trust Peer Review Cory Riverside Energy: A Carbon Case The Carbon Trust has conducted a peer-review on the report Cory Riverside Energy: A Carbon Case. The scope of this study was to run a comparison between two alternative scenarios for waste management and its goal being to demonstrate which has the lower impact: the conversion of waste into electricity within Cory Riverside Energy’s operations, with waste transport by road and river; and the disposal of the same waste to a UK landfill site with waste transport by road only. This was accepted as suitable for the goal of the study and to be in line with the UK Government 2014 Defra study, Energy from Waste: A Carbon Based Modelling Approach. The main findings of the peer-review were: • The carbon footprint study is based on an appropriate methodology and identifies the key carbon impact categories for Cory Riverside Energy’s own Energy from Waste activities and an alternative scenario of the waste being sent off to Landfill. • The study also supports Cory Riverside Energy’s results regarding the comparative analysis of their own Energy from Waste operations to the alternative scenario of Landfill. 1 March 2017 Carbon Trust Certification Limited 4th Floor Dorset House 27-45 Stamford Street London SE1 9NT www.carbontruststandard.com Registered in England and Wales Number 06547658 Registered at 4th Floor, Dorset House, 27-45 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NT “Cory Riverside Energy’s mission is to provide London with a safe, secure, affordable and sustainable energy supply and to continue to do so into the future.“ 4 | A Carbon Case CORY RIVERSIDE ENERGY Who we are Cory Riverside Energy (‘Cory’) is one of the leading waste management companies in London with 275 employees across a network of sites and facilities.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Permit Appendices
    Riverside Energy Park Environmental Permit Appendices APPENDIX: SITE CONDITION REPORT B December 2018 Revision 0 Riverside Energy Park Site Condition Report i Riverside Energy Park Site Condition Report Contents 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Project Description ........................................................................................................ 1 1.3 The Objective ................................................................................................................ 1 2 Desk Study Information .............................................................................................................. 3 2.1 Geology, Hydrogeology & Hydrology ............................................................................ 3 2.2 Pollution History ............................................................................................................. 4 3 Previous Contamination and Site Investigations .................................................................... 9 3.2 Site Investigations ......................................................................................................... 9 3.3 Soil Contamination Monitoring & Results .................................................................... 12 3.4 Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring & Results .............................................. 34 3.5 Gas Monitoring and results ........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Cory Riverside Energy
    Riverside Energy Park Statement of Reasons VOLUME NUMBER: PLANNING INSPECTORATE REFERENCE NUMBER: EN010093 DOCUMENT REFERENCE: 04 4.1 November 2018 Revision 0 APFP Regulation 5(2)(h) Planning Act 2008 | Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 Statement of Reasons Riverside Energy Park Contents 1 Summary ........................................................................................................... 1 2 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 3 3 Project Description .......................................................................................... 5 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 5 3.2 REP ....................................................................................................... 5 3.3 Electrical Connection ............................................................................ 6 4 Description of the Order Land ........................................................................ 7 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 7 4.2 Location ................................................................................................ 7 4.3 REP site and Main Temporary Construction Compound - Existing Land Use ........................................................................................................ 7 4.4 Electrical Connection
    [Show full text]
  • Other Reports Template
    Environmental Impact Assessment Report, Volume 2: Appendices Riverside Optimisation Project Appendix B.4 Note on Public Health and Evidence Riverside Optimisation Project Note on Public Health and Evidence On behalf of Riverside Resource Recovery Limited Project Ref: 50407 | Rev: 1.0 | Date: April 2021 Registered Office: Buckingham Court Kingsmead Business Park, London Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1JU Office Address: Link House, 78 Cowcross Street, London, United Kingdom, EC1M 6EJ T: +44 (0) 20 7492 5700 E: [email protected] Riverside Optimisation Project Public Health and Evidence Contents 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose of this Report ................................................................................................... 1 2 Energy Recovery Facilities and Health .................................................................................. 3 2.1 Public Health England Statement .................................................................................. 3 2.2 Public Health England (PHE) Research ........................................................................ 3 3 Ultrafine Particulates................................................................................................................ 6 3.1 Monitoring of Particulates .............................................................................................. 6 3.2 Emissions of Ultrafine Particulates from
    [Show full text]
  • Wasting London's Future
    Wasting London’s Future Environment Committee March 2018 Holding the Mayor to account and investigating issues that matter to Londoners Environment Committee Members Leonie Cooper AM Shaun Bailey AM (Chair) Conservative Labour Caroline Russell AM David Kurten AM (Deputy Chair) UKIP Green Joanne McCartney Tony Arbour AM AM Conservative Labour Jennette Arnold OBE AM Labour The Environment Committee examines all aspects of the capital’s environment by reviewing the Mayor’s strategies on air quality, water, waste, climate change and energy. Contact Grace Loseby, Assistant Scrutiny Lisa Lam, External Relations Officer Manager Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Telephone: 020 7983 4299 Telephone: 020 7983 4067 Follow us: @LondonAssembly #AssemblyEnv facebook.com/london.assembly Contents Foreword .................................................................................... 4 Summary .................................................................................... 6 Recommendations ...................................................................... 7 1. Introduction ..................................................................... 10 2. Preventing Waste ............................................................. 12 3. Increasing recycling .......................................................... 16 4. Reducing residual waste ................................................... 23 5. Energy from waste and benefits from waste disposal ...... 26 Our approach...........................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Cory Riverside Energy’S Efw Plant
    INDUSTRY FOCUS by ETHAN O’BRIEN Carbon Management Advisor at Cory Riverside Energy Energy from Waste and Recycling tonnes of recyclables per annum. the approach; the Cory Compliance In this regular feature, we focus Cory’s river based, local waste Team use their expertise in running on how organisations across disposal and energy generation an Integrated Management System different industries approach solution has substantial carbon (IMS) covering an ISO 14001 energy management. Here, savings compared to road based Environmental Management System, we are exploring the world of transport and landfilling of waste. ISO 9001 Quality Standard and an energy from waste and recycling Throughout the operation using OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health with Ethan O Brien, Carbon energy responsibly, increasing and Safety Standard to develop Management Advisor at Cory efficiency and reducing carbon the energy management strategy Riverside Energy. emissions are central to enhancing within the company. The next phase the Cory Riverside Energy brand. to enhance the existing IMS, is to Cory Riverside Energy’s (Cory) incorporate an ISO 50001 energy mission is to provide London with a A unique approach for a unique management system, further safe, secure, and sustainable energy operation demonstrating Cory’s commitment supply, derived from London’s waste to improving energy management. resource. Cory use a fleet of tugs Energy management at Cory has and barges on the River Thames to been high on the agenda since To produce energy and manage transport sealed containers of waste 2008. It has officially been endorsed waste resource, energy is required (c.750,000 tonnes pa.) from riparian by senior management in a Carbon in day to day operations.
    [Show full text]
  • St. Helens Borough Council Retail and Leisure Study Final Report May 2017
    St. Helens Borough Council Retail and Leisure Study Final Report May 2017 (Publication date January 2018 to Incorporate the Latest Experian Data) Contents Page 1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3 2.0 Current and Emerging Retail Trends ................................................................................................ 5 3.0 Planning Policy Context .................................................................................................................. 14 4.0 Original Market Research ................................................................................................................ 24 5.0 Health Check Assessments.............................................................................................................. 54 6.0 Population and Expenditure ............................................................................................................ 70 7.0 Retail Capacity in St. Helens Authority Area ..................................................................................... 78 8.0 Commercial Leisure ........................................................................................................................ 89 9.0 Key Findings and Recommendations................................................................................................ 102 Glossary of Terms ..................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Green Infrastructure in the Liverpool City Region
    Green PETER MORTON Infrastructure DIRECTOR MERSEY WATERFRONT REGIONAL PARK in the Liverpool City Region THE MERSEY PARTNERSHIP Economic Growth & Investment Recreation & Leisure Land & Property Values Quality of Place Labour Productivity GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE Land & GREEN INTERVENTIONS Biodiversity INFRASTRUCTURE Tourism INTERVENTIONS Flood Products alleviation & from the Management Land Climate Change Health & Adaption & Wellbeing Mitigation Businesses attract and retain more Economic motivated staff in greener settings Growth & Footpaths, cycle paths and Investment Recreation bridleways enable healthy, low cost & Leisure recreation Views of natural landscapes can Land & Add up to 18% to property values Property Values Quality of Community-owned green spaces can Place create jobs for local people Green spaces near workplaces reduce sickness absence increasing Labour Productivity productivity GREEN Green Infrastructure provides vital INFRASTRUCTURE Land & INTERVENTIONS Biodiversity habitats and jobs managing land Rural Tourism supports 37,500 jobs in the Northwest Tourism Flood Urban green spaces reduce pressure Products alleviation & on drainage and flood defences 40,000 people work in agricultures in from the Management the Northwest Land Climate Green Infrastructure can counter Green Infrastructure reduces pollution Change soaring summer temperatures in Health & Adaption & Which leads to asthma and heart Mitigation cities disease Wellbeing History Is green space a strategic issue? “After 1848 the cities tended to acquire [fountains,
    [Show full text]