The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) has published a new policy position on mechanical biological treatment (MBT) in which it calls for more to be done to keep the material from facilities in the UK.
In its policy position, it said that MBT plants that are designed to process mixed household, commercial and industrial wastes, offer a second chance to recover recyclables before reaching the landfill.
It said that with MBT facilities designed to produce a variety of recovered materials including an RDF or SRF fuel, which can be produced to produce energy in a thermal treatment plant.
CIWEM believes the Government must continue to aid the expansion of the domestic markets for MBT recovered materials as at present much of the material is exported to Europe, meaning its use in energy generation does not contribute to domestic renewable energy targets.
CIWEM policy officer Laura Grant said: “While we must be aiming for greater resource efficiency and recycling at the kerbside first and foremost, MBT facilities are an additional tool in our sustainable waste management toolkit.
“MBT facilities will continue to have a role to play in increasing the recovery of recyclable materials, diverting waste from landfill and lowering the carbon intensity of our waste management solutions.”
