This week, not only have we had the Dispatches programme which the Environmental Services Association says only serves to ‘undermine’ the public’s confidence in recycling, but planning permission rejected for a new Energy from Waste (EfW) facility on the basis that it would drive down recycling rates.
Therefore, it was interesting to read Luke Prazky's article addressing not only whether EfWs really will drive down recycling rates, but also the likelihood of an incineration tax and whether that might boost recycling.
Commercial and industrial waste producers are legally obligated and financially motivated to apply the Waste Hierarchy to their waste streams, which includes not producing waste in the first place and finding alternative uses for wastes (re-use) or maintaining value in the material as per the circular economy model. This will be further enhanced through the Enhanced Producer Responsibility requirements that will focus manufacturers on improving product recyclability.
