Stop, Sort, Burn, Bury - incineration in the waste hierarchy: independent review

Footnotes

1. In the Review, the term "incineration" is used in line with its terms of reference to cover mass burn via moving grate, rotating kiln or fluidised bed; gasification; and pyrolysis, all with or without energy recovery. Elsewhere, the terms "energy from waste" (EfW) or "waste to energy" (WtE) are often preferred and can be considered to be essentially the same as "incineration" in the Review.

2. Securing a green recovery on a path to net zero: climate change plan 2018–2032 - update. Scottish Government. (2020). Chapter 5 Waste and the Circular Economy - 3.5. Waste and the Circular Economy. Available at: Securing a green recovery on a path to net zero: climate change plan 2018-2032 – Scottish Government (accessed March 2022)

3. Written question and answer: S6W-03436 | Scottish Parliament Website. Available at: Written questions and answers, Scottish Parliament (accessed April 2022)

4. the former UK Department of Energy and Climate Change

5. Waste incinerated in Scotland - 2020. SEPA. (2020). Figure 2 Waste incinerated in Scotland by incineration method 2011 - 2020. Available at: Waste Incinerated in Scotland 2019, SEPA (accessed March 2022)

6. The Review recognises that the treatment of healthcare and hazardous wastes is an important topic, however the issues for consideration are, in some significant respects, different to those relating to managing other forms of residual waste which are the primary focus for this review.

7. The Scottish Government committed to "extend the forthcoming ban on sending biodegradable municipal waste to landfill to include biodegradable non-municipal wastes, subject to appropriate consultation and work to provide assurance around some specific waste streams"

Securing a green recovery on a path to net zero: climate change plan 2018–2032 - update. Scottish Government. (2020). Chapter 5 Waste and the Circular Economy - 3.5. Waste and the Circular Economy. Available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/securing-green-recovery-path-net-zero-update-climate-change-plan-20182032/documents/ (accessed March 2022)

8. Call for Evidence. Review of Incineration (2021). Available at: https://consult.gov.scot/environment-forestry/incineration-review-call-for-evidence/

9. Draft fourth National Planning Framework. Scottish Government. (2021). Part 3, Policy 4. Available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotland-2045-fourth-national-planning-framework-draft/pages/5/ (accessed April 2022)

10. Incineration Review: Capacity Analysis. Ricardo Energy and Environment. (2022). Available at: http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781804353912/documents/

11. Implementing Scotland's landfill ban. ClimateXChange. (2022). Available at: https://www.climatexchange.org.uk/research/projects/implementing-scotlands-landfill-ban/ (accessed March 2022)

12. Waste from all sources data tables 2018. SEPA. (2019). Prevention tab. Available at: https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/500275/waste-from-all-sources-waste-data-tables-2018.xlsx (accessed March 2022)

13. For more detail on the waste hierarchy, see Applying the waste hierarchy: guidance. Scottish Government. (2017). Part 1. Available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/guidance-applying-waste-hierarchy/pages/3/ (accessed March 2022)

14. Household Waste Summary Data. SEPA. (2020). Table 7. Available at: https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/594041/2020-household-statistics-data-tables-final-v2b.xlsx

15. The composition of household waste at the kerbside in 2014-15,. Zero Waste Scotland. (2017). Page 12. Available at: https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/composition-household-waste-kerbside (accessed April 2022)

16. Waste Incinerated in Scotland Data Tables. SEPA. (2021). Table 2. Available at: https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/594033/2020-waste-incinerated-in-scotland-data-tables-release.xlsx (accessed March 2022)

17. Waste Landfilled in Scotland Data Tables. SEPA. (2021). Table 2. Available at: https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/594033/2020-waste-incinerated-in-scotland-data-tables-release.xlsx (accessed March 2022)

18. See Annex B for more detail on the policy context for Scotland

19. SEPA response to Incineration Review Call for Evidence. SEPA. (2022). Available at: Incineration in the waste hierarchy review: call for evidence - Scottish Government - Citizen Space (consult.gov.scot)

20. Incineration Review: Capacity Analysis. Ricardo Energy and Environment. (2022). Available at: http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781804353912/documents/

21. Waste from all sources data tables 2018. SEPA. (2019). Available at: https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/500275/waste-from-all-sources-waste-data-tables-2018.xlsx (accessed April 2022)

22. The analysis considers waste likely to be captured by the Ban plus an additional 37.1 kt of C&I waste that would also be covered by an Extended Ban, using the assumed waste streams set out in Appendices 2 and 3 in the Ricardo analysis.

23. For example, sorting residue particles are often too fine to be put through a moving grate incinerator

24. An annual half percentage point increase in recycling rate for target materials

25. An annual percentage point increase in recycling rate for target materials

26. This was based upon reviewing the modelled capacity outlined for the operational facilities against the sites consented capacity, factoring in the assumption that newer facilities would be more efficient and operating closer to their actual consented capacity. This was also cross-referenced with information submitted during the call for evidence. For example, stakeholder feedback suggested that a reasonable estimate of availability could be around 86% or 86.4%-91%. For more information see: Incineration Review: Capacity Analysis. Ricardo Energy and Environment. (2022). Available at: http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781804353912/documents/

27. Additionally, Tolvik suggest that based on turbine operations, the average availability was 85.9%. For example see: UK Energy from Waste Statistics. Tolvik UK. (2020). Available at: https://www.tolvik.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Tolvik-UK-EfW-Statistics-2020-Report_Published-May-2021.pdf (accessed March 2022)

28. Materials recovery facility – a mechanical sorting process used to separate out different materials and formats for recycling.

29. For example, one operator told us they would be expecting to operate close to their permitted capacity, and would be likely to come online sooner than the original estimate.

30. As MBT is a pre-treatment technology, not an end treatment, the 'capacity' for it used in the model is the volume reduction achieved due to the pre-treatment (mainly removal of recyclables and moisture loss).

31. RMAS Homepage. Resource Management Association Scotland. Available at: https://rmascotland.co.uk (accessed March 2022)

32. UKWIN Homepage. United Kingdom Without Incineration Network. Available at: https://ukwin.org.uk (accessed March 2022)

33. SESA Homepage. Scottish Environmental Services Association. Available at: http://www.esauk.org/about-us/sesa (accessed March 2022)

34. Waste Landfilled in Scotland Dataset. SEPA. (2020). Available at: https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/594032/2020-waste-landfilled-in-scotland-data-tables-release.xlsx (accessed March 2022)

35. SEPA response to Incineration Review Call for Evidence. SEPA. (2022). Available at: Incineration in the waste hierarchy review: call for evidence - Scottish Government - Citizen Space (consult.gov.scot)

36. SEPA response to Incineration Review Call for Evidence. SEPA. (2022). Available at: Incineration in the waste hierarchy review: call for evidence - Scottish Government - Citizen Space (consult.gov.scot)

37. Friends of the Earth Scotland response to Incineration Review Call for Evidence. FOES. (2022). Available at: Incineration in the waste hierarchy review: call for evidence - Scottish Government - Citizen Space (consult.gov.scot)

38. UKWIN response to Incineration Review Call for Evidence. UKWIN. (2022). Available at: Incineration in the waste hierarchy review: call for evidence - Scottish Government - Citizen Space (consult.gov.scot)

39. Email correspondence between Prof Phil Purnell (University of Leeds) and the Review

40. The composition of household waste at the kerbside in 2014-15,. Zero Waste Scotland. (2017). Page 12. Available at: https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/sites/default/files/The%20composition%20of%20household%20waste%20at%20the%20kerbside%20in%202014-15.pdf (last accessed April 2022)

41. Operational Assessment of Alternative Residual Waste Treatment Technologies Report. Zero Waste Scotland (Pre-peer review, unpublished). (2022)

42. Further information can be found at: Biodegradable Municipal Waste Landfill Ban. SEPA. (2018). Available at: https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/352595/sepa_bmw_landfill_ban_guidance_note.pdf (accessed April 2022)

43. The Scottish Landfill Tax (Qualifying Material) Order 2016. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2016/93/contents/made (accessed April 2022)

44. Incineration of Waste and Reported Human Health Effects. Health Protection Scotland. (2009). Available at: https://hpspubsrepo.blob.core.windows.net/hps-website/nss/2407/documents/1_incineration-of-waste-and-reported-human-health-effects.pdf

45. Environmental Stressors: The Mental Health Impacts of Living Near Industrial Activity. Downey, L. & van Willigen, M. (2005). J Health Soc Behav, 46(3), pp. 289-305.

46. Cancer risks in populations living near landfill sites in Great Britain. Jarup, L. et al. (2002). British Journal of Cancer, Volume 86, pp. 1732-1736.

47. Risk of adverse birth outcomes in populations living near landfill sites. Elliott, P. et al. (2001). British Medical Journal, Volume 323

48. No Excess Risk of Adverse Birth Outcomes in Populations Living near Special Waste Landfill Sites in Scotland. Morris, S. E. et al. (2003). Scottish Medical Journal, 48(4).

49. Greenhouse Gas and Air Quality Impacts of Incineration and Landfill. Eunomia. (2020). Available at: https://www.eunomia.co.uk/reports-tools/greenhouse-gas-and-air-quality-impacts-of-incineration-and-landfill/ (accessed April 2022)

50. Mechanical biological treatment of municipal solid waste. Defra. (2013). Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mechanical-biological-treatment-of-municipal-solid-waste

51. Exposure-response relationships for bioaerosol emissions from waste treatment processes. Defra. (2008). Available at: http://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None&Completed=0&ProjectID=15140 (accessed March 2022)

52. The review received 57 responses and emails from individuals and local community groups and an email campaign of over 1000.

53. Mechanical biological treatment of municipal solid waste. Defra. (2013). Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mechanical-biological-treatment-of-municipal-solid-waste

54. The Mechanism behind Environmental Inequality in Scotland: Which Came First, the Deprivation or the Landfill?, Richardson, E., Shortt, N. & Mitchell, a. R. J. (2010). Environment and Planning,42(1), pp. 223-240.

55. Incineration Review: Options Appraisal. Ricardo Energy and Environment. (2022). Available at: http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781804353912/documents/

56. The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) is a relative measure of deprivation which ranks 6,976 small areas (called data zones). The SMID deciles (1-10), which define the deprivation levels in 10% bands. Data zones in decile 1 are among the 10% most deprived areas in Scotland, and data zones in decile 10 are among the 10% least deprived. More information can be found at: Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. Scottish Government. (2020). Available at: https://www.gov.scot/collections/scottish-index-of-multiple-deprivation-2020/ (accessed March 2022)

57. The preponderance of evidence relating to incineration compared to other waste treatment options could be explained by the Review's focus on waste and possibly the differences in lifecycle stages and planning processes

58. For example, a typical ATT plant of 50,000 t/y capacity would employ approximately 25-35 permanent staff

59. Briefing on job creation potential in the re-use sector. rreuse. (2015). Available at: https://rreuse.org/re-use-has-higher-employment-potential-than-recycling/.(accessed April 2022)

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61. Scottish Landfill Communities Fund Five Year Review. SEPA. (2020). Available at: https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/590266/201201_public_slcf_5yearreview.pdf (accessed April 2022).

62. About Shetland Heat Energy and Power. Shetland Energy Heat and Power. https://sheap-ltd.co.uk/technical-information (accessed April 2022).

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65. That is, come from natural materials that were in living organisms in the last hundred years

66. That is, in the absence of oxygen

67. An assessment of the biodegradable content of mixed municipal and commercial and industrial waste. Defra. (2012). Available at: http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=12266_WR1003BiodegradabilityofMSWReportfinal.pdf (accessed April 2022)

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71. See for example Problems in the Reporting of GHG Emissions from 'Waste': Indicators and Inventories, Equanimator Ltd (2022). Available at: https://www.dominichogg.com/research

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84. Except the Lerwick plant, which operates in heat-only mode with a stated efficiency of 85%

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