Each year, the Energy from Waste Conference features a Leaders’ panel, an opportunity to hear from those at the forefront of pushing for change in the industry. This year was no different, and featured individuals from across the industry, both in the UK and beyond. They discussed EfW’s current situation, ETS, public perceptions, and top priorities for the future.

Session chair, Cobalt Energy’s CEO Ian Crummack, asked each panellist where they felt ‘things currently sit’. First up, was Paul de Bruycker, Executive Chairman Board of Directors of Indaver Group and President of CEWEP, who acknowledged the challenging times EfW was facing. Mr de Bruycker explained that the waste sector is currently at a crossroads, waiting to take that leap towards a circular economy, and the biggest challenge is proving waste’s value. “We have to [work out how to] bring waste back into the chain in a way that it can be used as a product, as a raw material for the circular economy, and that it is economically valuable and high quality,” he said. “That is where we really have the challenge of tomorrow.”

Next up was John Scanlon, CEO of Suez Recycling and Recovery UK, who believes the current landscape of the waste industry is an exciting one. With policy changes like simpler recycling and EPR, Mr Scanlon sees this transitional period as impactful and a chance for new opportunities. However, some certainty is still needed. “There are some real positives in terms of certainty compared to some of our European accounts. But we have some gaps in certainty that are really important for us [to resolve] as operators for investors and customers,” he said. “I think if you look at our industry, we have a great opportunity with our waste flows across the industry to help to decarbonise really difficult sectors.”

Viridor’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Tim Rotheray, was next. He focused on the waste sector’s potential to offer the government and economy attributes that few other sectors can, especially concerning carbon capture (CCS). “The opportunity for us as a sector to underpin the kickstarting of the carbon capture market in the UK, underpin the opening of additional stores for an export opportunity in the UK, or in other words, for us to import CO2 from other nations and to encourage the investment of the negative emissions market, is absolutely enormous." 

Then, it was the turn of Thye Chee How, the CEO Environmental Division of Citaglobal, a company based in Malaysia and the Southeast Asia market. His answer was slightly different from those of the other panellists, as the market condition there is different from that of Europe. “If you ever attend any waste conference in Southeast Asia, the topics are totally different,” he explained. “Most of the topics are related to how to convince the government to build more EfW projects and why.”

Once introductions were over, the discussion focused on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and how both the UK and the EU will be dealing with it. Mr Scanlon pointed out the need for a landfill ban, as costs from ETS could lead to waste falling further down the waste hierarchy to landfill sites. “Let's not forget about the amazing job that EfW facilities have done over the last 20 years or so, moving waste away from landfill for a much better solution,” said Mr Scanlon. “The last thing we all want is to start seeing volumes dropping down, going the wrong way.” 

Public perception also came up during the discussion. Unsurprising, given the BBC report that came out at the end of last year. Throughout the conference, it was agreed that public perception of EfW isn’t as bad as perhaps the media make it out to be. However, Tim did point out that the sector needs to shout more about the benefits of EfW, especially with the move towards a circular economy and CCS. “They say during a general election that the only time your message is starting to get through is when you're bored of hearing yourself say it,” he explained. “So, we need to have a really clear message and vision, and we need to say it over and over again. Because if we don't, who will?”

It seems that not everywhere around the world is having the same issues. In SE Asia, Mr How explained that while public perception of EfW is positive, it is the government that is more sceptical, which has made it harder for companies to gain permission to build new EfWs. As landfill is so cheap, and governments have problems they see as more pressing than changing how they deal with waste, perception isn’t a concern in the market there. “I think this is where the challenge is [in the SE Asia market],” said Mr How. “In the decision making, rather than perception.”

Just as he started, Mr Crummack finished the panel by going down the line again, asking panellists to provide their top priorities and challenges. Mr Rotheray went first, highlighting that getting ETS right was crucial and could set the UK on the right track to decarbonise. “If [ETS] doesn't [help decarbonisation], it is a lot of complexity for no benefit.” Mr Scanlon echoed this opinion, and Mr de Bruycker similarly noted that the priority was to decarbonise, so that leakage and exporting could be cut down.

In what would be arguably one of the most important comments made throughout the two-day event, Mr How pointed out the issue of waste being exported to SE Asia, particularly from European countries. 

“So you think that we should deal with our own waste?” Asked the chair, Mr Crummack.

“Exactly.”

The room of majority British and European waste professionals applauded in reply, highlighting how crucial it is for Europe to deal with its own waste. Millions of tonnes of waste is imported overseas each year, with European countries being at the top of the rankings as the biggest importers. A high volume of this waste ends up in developing countries, which may not have the infrastructure to deal with the waste and in turn causes increased pollution and disease in the area. The applause from the audience signified a desire to move away from these bad practices and as we transition towards decarbonisation and a more circular economy, let's hope that this becomes the reality.

By Izzy Felton