Electricity from waste incinerators

[Ralphw2]

The UK now has 38 electricity generating waste incinerators, reportedly producing 3.5% of UK electricity at an average CO2 emissions of 720gCO2/KWh,
making it the most carbon intensive source of UK electricity after we ended coal, if we ignore LNG, and probably DRAX biomass, which are both far worse than officially recorded.

The concentration of plastic in the waste is rising , leading to the increased net CO2, because far more organic waste is composted or goes to biodigesters for methane production. Also, with many countries refusing to take UK plastic waste as toxic and impossible to recycle, more and more is being burnt, as land fill is now heavily taxed.

All this shows that reqching net zero electricity or all energy will be virtually impossible in the UK, and we , like almost every other country, to a greater or lesser extent fudge or blatently lie about their true levels of emissions.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3wxgje5pwo

[clv101]

The way to deal with plastic waste is to focus upstream. SO MUCH plastic is used unnecessarily in packaging - the vast majority of my domestic waste is plastic packaging.

[mr brightside]

It shocks me that plastics that are uneconomically recyclable are legal. I also can't believe how much of it is used in household packaging, and how unwilling suppliers are to use metallic alternatives.

[adam2]

The way to deal with plastic waste is to focus upstream. SO MUCH plastic is used unnecessarily in packaging - the vast majority of my domestic waste is plastic packaging.

I agree, but until we achieve a reduction in the amount of plastic waste, burning for electricity production is probably less bad than dumping in landfill.

P.S during my recent hospital stay, I was horrified at the vast amount of plastic waste produced in a hospital.
Plastic aprons, use once and discard
Plastic tape measure, throw away after one use.
And even laundered linens come in plastic wrappings.