The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is to “crack down” on waste incinerators with stricter standards, in a bid to improve the UK’s declining recycling rates. The new criteria means that new facilities will only receive planning approval is they meet new local and environmental standards.

In 2022/23, almost half (49%) of all waste collected by local authorities was incinerated, while 40% was recycled. The government believes that much of the incinerated waste could have been recycled. Circular economy minister Mary Creagh said:

For far too long, the nation has seen its recycling rates stagnate and relied on burning household waste, rather than supporting communities to keep resources in use for longer. That ends today, with clear conditions for new energy from waste plants – they must be efficient and support net zero and our economic growth mission, before they can get the backing needed to be built.”

In October, the BBC criticised EfW facilities, dubbing them the UK’s "dirtiest" form of power. In response, the government’s new regulations aim to mitigate these concerns by mandating carbon capture technologies and higher efficiency standards. 

The three main requirements are:

• Maximising efficiency: Facilities must prioritise efficiency while contributing to economic growth, net zero goals, and a circular economy.
• Reducing residual waste: Developers must prove their projects will cut non-recyclable waste going to landfill or replace outdated plants.
• Carbon capture readiness: All new facilities must be equipped to capture carbon emissions and utilise the heat they produce.

A report in the Residual Waste Infrastructure Capacity Note, published on the same day as the new requirements, suggests that these tougher requirements will not hinder the country's ability to process waste. Instead, they are expected to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill while transitioning toward cleaner, more sustainable methods of waste management. 

Many in the sector have welcomed the stricter standards, but Cathy Cook, Chair of the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) believes more should be done, particularly to reducing levels of residual waste. She said:

Now that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging has been introduced, the government must focus on EPR for non-packaging materials, repair and reuse initiatives, and boosting demand for recyclables like flexible plastics. These measures could significantly reduce the volume of municipal waste sent to incinerators.”