Energy from waste must not be overlooked say industry experts

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Renewable Power Association (RPA) have issued a joint report showing the huge potential for greater generation of energy from waste.

The report, Quantification of the Potential Energy from Residuals in the UK, concludes that there is the opportunity for certain types of waste to produce up to 17% of electricity generated in the UK by 2020.

Almost 30 million tonnes of household rubbish was sent to landfill in England alone in 2003.
The report states that more than half of this rubbish could be used to create enough power to light two million homes each year. A large majority of this waste is recognised in EU law as a source of renewable energy.

Peter Gerstrom, chairman of ICE's waste management board, said: "Instead of burying rubbish that is left after recycling it can be used to create electricity through a variety of measures.

"We are not generating enough renewable electricity, which means that the UK will not reach the EU Renewables Directive target of producing 10% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2010. We are even less likely to reach the next target of having 20% provided by renewables by 2020."