NGOs write to ENVI committee that waste should not be a renewable energy source

Health Care Without Harm Europe has co-signed a letter to the Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee of the European Parliament calling for the exclusion of the biodegradable fraction of municipal waste as a source of renewable energy.


[Read the letter here]

On 30th November 2016, the European Commission published a proposal for a revised Renewable Energy Directive that establishes a common framework for the promotion of energy from renewable sources. HCWH Europe is concerned about the proposal’s inclusion of “waste” as a source of renewable energy. With this criteria, Member States would be able to use different kinds of energy generation from waste including: landfill gas, incineration and other thermal treatments, as well as anaerobic digestion, to meet targets under this Directive. Some of these measures are inconsistent with EU waste policies under the Circular Economy Package, and inconsistent with the EU climate agenda. 

Zero Waste Europe provides recommendations on ways to improve the Renewable Energy proposal. You can read more about this issue on their website.

Preview image: Francisco Antunes via Flickr cc