Circular economy to exploit advanced EfW technology

Low-grade woods and plastics could come out of the waste hierarchy, the fourth annual World Waste to Energy conference has heard. 

Energy from waste could play a more obvious role in the circular economy package, according to the man responsible for implementing the EU’s Waste Framework Directive. DG Environment legal officer for waste management and recycling, Jorge Diaz del Castillo, was speaking on 19 May at the World Waste to Energy City Summit conference in London. He explained the EU’s plan for the circular economy is for more energy from less waste. This supported exploiting the most advanced technologies, such as pyrolysis and gasification, “to the full”.

EfW technology was left out of the original circular economy package, which was dropped last summer. Mr del Castillo hinted this would not be the case with the new package, but it would depend on the final outcome of the Waste Incineration BREF currently being discussed in Sevilla, Spain.

He further indicated low-grade wood and plastic could come out of the conventional waste hierarchy, as there is little market for them as recyclate. Doing so would favour energy recovery. But Mr del Castillo stressed that much depended on the outcome of the waste incineration BREF talks.

Certain food waste could also come out of the hierarchy, but only for anaerobic digestion. Refuse-derived fuels will be looked at as part of the circular economy, although Mr del Castillo indicated solid recovered fuel could be more desirable because of its “better quality”.

Foresight Group investment director James Samworth added the financial community remained “cautious” about the package. Energy from waste could play a more obvious role in the circular economy package, according to the man responsible for implementing the EU’s Waste Framework Directive.

 

ENDS waste&bioenergy_no strapline-4This article is a result of a partnership between ENDS Waste&Bionergy and EBA.