Access to Waste. Access to Sites. Access to Technologies.

A long-term development framework has been developed in North England to provide with a strong focus on sustainable waste management. North East England in particular has set clear targets for the following waste streams:

• Municipal solid waste to increase recovery to 72% by 2016
• Commercial and industrial waste to increase recovery to 73% by 2016
• Construction and demolition waste to increase recovery to 80% by 2016
• Recycle and compost 33% of household waste by 2015

 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

The UK Government introduced the Landfill Regulations in response to the implementation of the EC Landfill Directive. Implementation of this Directive and the requirement for operators of existing landfills to re-apply under the Pollution and Prevention Regulations will lead to a huge reduction in the number of landfill sites.

Government policy is to move away from landfill and encourage reduction of waste at source, re-use and recycling. In view of this, the Landfill Regulations (2002) have been recently amended to include the following requirements:

• A ban on the landfilling of liquid waste from October 2007
• A requirement for the pre-treatment of non-hazardous waste from October 2007
• Completion of the re-permitting of existing landfills under the Pollution
• Prevention and Control regime during 2007 and the closure of remaining landfills by 2009

 The Landfill Tax

The landfill tax is a levy specifically targeted for the disposal of wastes to landfill in England and Wales. The Government has stated that there will be increases in the landfill tax regime.

Currently, the standard rate for waste is £32 per tonne. However, the Government has announced that the landfill tax will be increased by £8 per tonne each year from 1st April 2008 until at least 2010/11, in order to encourage greater diversion of waste from landfill and the use of more sustainable waste management options.

Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs)

Renewable energy producers are issued with ROCs in proportion to the amount of energy produce. These can be sold to energy suppliers/utility companies needing to prove that they are complying with renewable energy supply targets either directly or through an intermediary. ROCs are tradable and the value varies but in ‘09 the average price for ROCs was £52.65 per MW sold. The current rate for anaerobic digestion is 2 ROC per MW sold. Further information can be found at https://www.renewablesandchp.ofgem.gov.uk/

Centre for Process Innovation (CPI)

CPI develops products, processes, services and businesses in the process and manufacturing sectors, and brings jobs and prosperity to the North East of England. It is building a new Industrial Biotechnology (IB) demonstration facility at the Wilton Centre.

This will provide a new open-access facility with a ten-tonne demonstration capacity – ten times larger than the existing one-tonne capacity at the National Industrial Biotechnology Facility (NIBF) at the CPI. It will be tailored to supporting companies and researchers to develop new products including sustainable bio-fuels, speciality chemicals and materials using biological feed stocks.

Renew

Renew is focusing on helping SMEs get new technologies to market and fast tracking commercially viable ideas which use sustainable energy and environmental technology. Strategic markets under consideration for early focus include a range of recycling technologies, sustainable waste treatment, advanced bio-fuels and waste to energy projects. Support to companies will involve technology transfer, help in the identification and acquisition of sites and premises, feasibility studies and access to finance.

National Industrial Symbiosis Programme

NISP is a business opportunity programme which can help to deliver benefits to members along with generating outcomes for the environment and society. NISP works directly with businesses of all sizes and through a programme advisory group.