The UK's minister responsible for waste incineration has ordered a "temporary pause" on the determination of environmental permits for new facilities. In a letter to the chief executive of the Environment Agency, Minister of State Mark Spencer explained that establishing a moratorium "for a short period lasting until 24 May 2024" would give officials at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) time "to lead a piece of work considering the role of waste incineration in the management of residual wastes in England". It was possible that the pause could be lifted earlier, Mr Spencer wrote.
The pause was explained as a response to "concerns set out previously with regard to further expanding England’s waste incineration capacity, and the risks this poses to our objectives and environmental obligations". Longer-term moratoria on additional wte capacity have already been imposed in Wales and Scotland.
Read the full article, including the scope of energy from waste projects covered by the moratorium and the implications for planned Medworth wte plant in Wisbech....
