Decarbonisation of residual waste infrastructure: report

6 Overall Conclusions

Based on the evidence considered by the Review, its Second Report conclusions are:

1. Current greenhouse gas emissions reporting needs to reflect the full system picture if the data is to be used to drive developments in the best overall direction.

2. Stopping all plastic from being incinerated is the quickest and most reliable route to reduce the carbon impact of incineration.

3. Carbon Capture, Use or Storage has the potential to play a significant role in meeting Scotland’s net zero ambitions and should be pursued. However, many barriers stand in the way of CCUS deployment and it is far from clear how quickly any contribution can be realised, nor how extensively. Therefore, it should not be relied upon to deliver Scotland’s net zero ambitions.

4. Combined Heat and Power connected to a heat network or other local heat user can play a role in improving the carbon performance of incinerators. However, because of a number of factors, that role is limited and will almost certainly decrease over time. It is not a reasonable justification for incineration.

5. The forthcoming end to landfill gas capture incentives could, if not addressed, lead to reductions in abatement in this sector.