The UK government will block new incinerators if they do not help meet environmental targets under rules announced this month.
But Labour’s new pledge falls short of the previous Conservative government’s promise of an outright ban.
Developers must show that their projects will either help reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste sent to landfills or replace older, less efficient incinerators.
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The move is part of the government’s efforts to increase recycling rates, which account for around 45% of household waste since 2015.
Environment Minister Mary Cree said: ‘For too long, this country has had stagnant recycling rates and relied on incinerating household waste rather than helping communities keep resources in use for longer. Ta.
“It ends today. Clear conditions are in place for new energy from waste plants. Before we get the support we need to build them, waste plants will be efficient, net-zero and our economic growth We need to support the mission of
Developers will also need to make incinerators compatible with previously unproven carbon capture technologies and demonstrate how the heat they produce can be used to reduce household energy bills.
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The government says the new incinerator “crackdown” will limit the number of incinerators built, but will still reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and help the country deal with the waste it produces. I hope it will be possible.
The Ministry of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says the country is almost at the point where it has enough waste facilities to handle non-recyclable waste, so the need for new incinerators is limited. Ta.
However, the proposals fall short of the plans set out in the Conservative Party’s 2024 manifesto. The plan promises a complete ban on new incinerators, citing their “impact on local communities” and declining demand as recycling increases.
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Christopher McKeon is a political correspondent in Pennsylvania. This article was edited by ecologist staff.
