Energy from Waste & the Circular Economy - a Birmingham Policy Commission

To reach our net zero target and be resource efficient by 2050 – we need to celebrate initiatives that radically change the way we think about energy and the economy.

In the UK we have access to recycling resources that still hold valuable energy potential but are instead condemned as waste and incinerated or sent to landfill, emiting large amounts of CO2 and methane. Coupled with the growing lack of landfill space in the UK and restrictions on shipping due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK could face a waste crisis this year.

The University of Birmingham’s Energy Institute and the Energy Research Accelerator invite you to explore this important issue at our upcoming webinar. This event will bring together experts from engaged parliamentarians, industry leaders and climate experts to discuss the need for a national policy on energy from waste.

Effective waste disposal is essential to our modern lives, protecting us from infection and infestation, but the waste industry in the UK faces major challenges. Traditional methods of waste disposal are among the largest emitters of greenhouse gases. We are also more aware of the economic implications of our throw away culture. The UK now has an opportunity to repurpose and re-monetise resources, making us experts in waste recycling and energy recovery.

During this virtual event we will explore the role of EfW in supporting the transition to achieve net zero by 2050. Presenters will also highlight the recommendations being made to government in relation to:

• Heat
• Circularity
• Industry
• Technology
• Support for local and regional authorities

The advancements in our waste infrastructure will take time. Therefore, Energy from Waste (EfW) plants that recover energy in the form of heat as well as electricity will be needed to dispose of the residual waste in the most efficient way possible, but they must be more efficient and integrated with recycling systems and local economies. This can be done by building a network of local and regional Resource Recovery Clusters (RRCs) with combinations of EfW and recycling technologies - co-located with businesses and industries that use the Cluster’s energy networks, waste streams, fuels and products – in turn, empowering local authorities and placing a monetary value on their recycling efforts as a cash boost to their own circular economies.

We would be delighted for you to attend and to share your insights.