AQW 11247/17-22
Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim
Tabled Date: 30/11/2020
Answered On Date: 05/01/2021
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether his Department has made an assessment on the impact emissions from waste incineration in Northern Ireland have on meeting UK net-zero targets.
Answer:
The waste sector in Northern Ireland is a relatively small contributor to total emissions in Northern Ireland, accounting for 4% of emissions in 2018. It is also important to recognise that this is a 58% reduction on 1990 levels. Over 90% of the emissions from waste are in the form of methane, of which 75% comes from the breaking down of waste anaerobically in landfill, so it is important to ensure we reduce emissions by diverting waste from landfill to other treatment options. This includes recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, mechanical biological treatment and incineration with energy recovery. Emissions from waste incineration would be in the form of CO2 which is much less potent than methane from landfill. The Committee on Climate Change report on Reducing Emissions in Northern Ireland published in February 2019 recognises the need to assess the role of energy from waste plants to treat BMW diverted from landfill and as such I continue to do so. It should also be noted that incineration is only one form of energy from waste and there are a range of other technologies which I am considering. I would also direct you to my reply on AQW 7744/17-22 in relation to your question on the climate impacts of waste to energy plants.
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