35 Acknowledged

Government investment in low-quality Energy from Waste plants should at the least be matched by...

Recommendation
Government investment in low-quality Energy from Waste plants should at the least be matched by investment in higher quality recycling methods that mean materials, particularly rare and valuable ones can be re-used. Energy from Waste, though important to prevent items going to landfill, should be treated as a low priority in UK waste infrastructure investment strategies. (Paragraph 139) Conclusion
Government Response Summary
The government believes its primary goal is to incentivise higher quality recycling methods and will explore whether a longer-term approach to target setting could promote investment in these methods. They do not commit to matching investment in Energy from Waste or explicitly prioritising other methods.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government Acknowledged
In relation to the investment in high quality recycling methods we believe a number of actions can come together to make progress in this area. We believe government’s primary goal should be to provide necessary incentives to drive up higher quality recycling methods. We note in the WEEE system for example that stakeholders have raised a number of questions around the short termism in the system in relation to annual target setting which may hinder the certainty needed to foster longer term arrangements and investment opportunities. We will therefore explore whether a longer-term approach to target setting would promote more certainty and, as a result, more investment into higher quality recycling methods.
Timeline
Recommendation age 5.7 yrs
Report published 26 Nov 2020