Why do we need these facilities?

The EU Landfill Directive requires a phased reduction in the amount of biodegradable municipal waste which is sent to landfill.

If we don’t meet these targets, councils will face fines and increased costs, including landfill tax, which could lead to households paying hundreds of pounds more on their annual rates bill in a worst case scenario.

While we’re making good progress in improving the levels of recycling and reducing the amount of waste at source, this will not completely solve the problem. As there is a practical limit to the amount of waste that can be recycled, other means of treatment will be required to minimise the amount of waste being sent to landfill.

It is important that we view and utilise waste as a resource.The Government’s policy document, entitled Towards Resource Management, advocates an integrated approach to waste management using several different processes, including EfW.

Pictured above is a Belgian EfW facility.