{"id":501,"date":"2025-03-04T12:15:43","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T13:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goldmineglobalng.com\/?p=501"},"modified":"2025-03-06T14:12:21","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T14:12:21","slug":"what-does-efw-joining-the-uk-ets-mean-for-local-authorities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.goldmineglobalng.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/04\/what-does-efw-joining-the-uk-ets-mean-for-local-authorities\/","title":{"rendered":"What does EfW joining the UK ETS mean for local authorities?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Energy<\/h4>\n

Jane Cherrington, Director \u2013 Climate at Local Partnerships and Resource Conference Cymru 2025 Panel Moderator<\/a>, dives into the challenges local authorities and private waste collectors will face when Energy-from-Waste joins the UK Emissions trading scheme in 2028.<\/h4>\n

At a CIWM event last year, a colleague described the UK emissions trading scheme (UK ETS) as a silent express train tearing towards us. Even after years of communication about the inclusion of energy from waste and incinerators in the trading scheme, it can certainly still feel that way.<\/p>\n

To say UK ETS is a slow burn for the waste sector (no pun intended) could be an understatement.<\/p>\n

The primary goal of the UK ETS is to reduce fossil carbon emissions by setting a cap on the total amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted by specific sectors.<\/p>\n

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Jane Cherrington, Director \u2013 Climate at Local Partnerships.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The UK ETS Authority has announced the intention to expand the scheme to cover incinerators and Energy-from-Waste (EFW) plants from 2028, with data gathering starting in 2026. This means EfW facilities will receive or buy emission allowances.<\/p>\n

Monitoring, reporting and verification for each tonne of fossil CO2 generated by combustion processes will start next year, so change is fast approaching.<\/p>\n

The proposed changes will apply to all household and municipal waste, and that generated by commercial and industrial sources.<\/p>\n

There are no exemptions for clinical and hazardous waste within the current proposals. The scheme covers almost any activity which ultimately results in the waste material being burned, so advanced technologies, such as pyrolysis and gasification, are within scope.<\/p>\n

What will the cost be?<\/h2>\n

\"Energy<\/p>\n

The potential costs of ETS are not fully known at this stage \u2013 the cost of allowances can fluctuate based on market conditions.<\/p>\n

As of early 2025, the price of UK ETS carbon permits (UKAs) has varied significantly.\u00a0For instance, the price hit a low of\u00a0\u00a331.48 per metric tonne\u00a0in January 2024<\/a> but has been as high as high as \u00a397.48<\/a>. These values are significant and will soon add up, so those disposing of waste need to be ready.<\/p>\n

What could this mean for those who operate and use these facilities, in particular local authorities and private waste collectors?<\/p>\n

Local authorities and companies from across the UK are starting to come together to share their knowledge and ideas as they increasingly turn their attention to possible financial and practical implications of the proposed expansion of ETS.<\/p>\n

It certainly is great to see knowledge of the new UK-wide scheme growing across the sector.<\/p>\n

Facility operators have been exploring how they can adapt to the new requirements through more pre-sorting to remove fossil-based recyclables, ways to make their processing more efficient through CHP (combined heat and power), and the investment in carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS).<\/p>\n

Entities that collect waste are beginning to explore how applying the waste hierarchy will provide multiple benefits, but most importantly, in today\u2019s difficult financial climate, how they will tackle cost avoidance.<\/p>\n

Although this scheme might increase operational costs initially, it also fosters innovation aimed at reducing emissions and carbon footprints. Ultimately, these changes can lead to significant long-term environmental and cost savings.<\/p>\n

Decades of thinking and practical application have shown us that the waste hierarchy and polluter pays principle are two of the most effective foundations of policy for waste and resource management. The UK ETS is no different.<\/p>\n

The key points<\/h2>\n

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Here are some key points to help you on your ETS journey:<\/p>\n