During the General Assembly, Yves presented his perspective on the waste management market and the specific challenges related to energy production from renewable fuels. Strong links exist between ERFO members and energy prices, Europe’s need for energy independence, the re-industrialisation of the continent, and the reduction of carbon emissions. While waste recycling continues to increase, a significant share of waste still needs to be converted into energy. Key issues such as the potential future inclusion of the waste sector in the ETS, adjustments to incineration taxes, certification of the biogenic fraction, the CBAM mechanism, and the ban on plastic exports will have a major impact on ERFO members and their stakeholders. ERFO will continue to convey its messages to the European authorities and advocate for effective legislation aimed at improving the efficiency of SRF recovery and strengthening cooperation among all stakeholders.

Yves has a long and solid track record in the waste management sector, having worked for both public and private companies. He has been involved in a wide range of projects, including recycling, anaerobic digestion, composting, mechanical-biological treatment (MBT), and incineration. As a former responsible of Public Affairs, he is a keen observer of European legislation and EU institutions.

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Hubert has announced that he wants to continue on the path is taken and provide further impetus to ensure that the benefits of the SRF concept are recognised and solidified as an important part of the circular economy, combining the recovery of recyclables and the reliable use of energy from non-recyclable waste. Hubert has many years of experience in both the production and use of customised SRF. He was responsible for the operation of cement clinker kilns, co-founded the Association for Quality Assurance of Alternative Fuels and was largely responsible for the reconstruction of a public pre-processing plant, which he also successfully led to the awarding of the RAL quality mark 724. His management skills and network will drive the further work of ERFO and contribute to the improvement of the European SRF business.

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Stricter rules for source separation
As a matter of fact, since January 1, 2023, stricter rules for source separation apply. 25 waste streams have to be sorted separately and have to be checked by the waste collectors. In addition, residual Commercial & Industrial Waste (C&IW) collected directly from clients must be sorted before being sent to an incineration plant. Performance criteria have also been strengthened to prevent recyclable fractions from being incinerated as it appeared that, in practice, significant quantities of recyclable materials were still ending up in incineration plants.

Advanced sorting lines
The current approach of the Flemish Region has directly aroused the interest of companies to make important investments, as studies show that source separation has its limits. ERFO member Renewi, as a waste-to-product company, sees therefore interest in advanced sorting lines to further sort the residual fractions. Renewi is planning to develop 325.000 ton of sorting capacity spread over three of its sites. The Ghent plant has already started operating, whereas in Puurs the construction of a 125.000 ton facility has started. A next plant is to be developed at the Beringen site of Renewi.

It is expected that the sorting of residual waste will result in thirteen types of recyclables, which is 38% more than the European average. Besides recovery of recyclables, the sorting plants will also be able to produce feedstock to make SRF from. It is expected that each line will produce approximately 10 ktpa of SRF.

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Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) is the perfect link between optimum recycling of waste and optimum energy recovery. The essence of the SRF concept is that fuels can be derived from non-hazardous waste of which the quality is exactly known. A good example of the use of standards is given by ERFO member Remondis. In its facilities in Erftstadt, Germany, it can produce three distinctive groups of SRF. Using innovative solutions the quality of fuels is analysed in-line. The case of Erftstadt makes clear that a good combination of recycling, production of SRF and incineration of residues can be achieved. The overall approach generates more CO₂-savings than alternatives. The CO₂-savings are dominated by the production of SRF but also due to recycling of Fe-/NF-metals, plastic and glass as well as energy recover of the residues. The case of Erftstadt highlights that SRF is a driver for CO₂-reduction.

For more detailed information on the Remondis case download this file:

Solid Covered Fuel-production by Remondis and SRF-standardization

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Plastics2Olefins is an EU-funded project that will design, build, and run a demonstration plant for recycling of unsorted plastic waste at Repsol’s plant Puertollano (Spain), which will be digitalized and run on 100% renewable (electric) energy.

Pyrolysis
In line with the European Green Deal goals, the European Commission has set a concrete action plan to transform the European economy towards a sustainable and circular economy to become climate neutral by 2050 and to take global leadership in climate-friendly technologies. In this connection, one cross-cutting action plan to drive the transition is through research, innovation, and digitalization. Typically, one promising technology to recycle unsorted heterogeneous plastic waste is pyrolysis, i.e. the thermal degradation of plastic waste in the absence of oxygen.

Plastics recycling process
Today, about 4-8% of annual global oil consumption is associated with plastics, according to the World Economic Forum. Plastics2Olefins aims to demonstrate a novel plastics recycling process based on high-temperature pyrolysis, as the main product will be a gas stream instead of a liquid, so it will reduce the lifecycle GHG emissions by more than 70% compared to existing plastics recycling processes for unsorted plastic waste. It also will reduce by more than 80% compared to the current end-of-life options for these wastes, i.e., incineration.

The project will realize this in a two-step approach: first by adapting and testing a scaled pilot plant at Repsol Technology Lab to optimize the components and process conditions and finally, a pioneering full-scale industrial demonstration plant at Repsol’s petrochemical site, which will be finally operated in a six-months validation campaign. To optimize the carbon footprint of such a plant, the project will design and construct a plant that can be fully electrified by renewably generated electricity.

Role of ERFO
The role of ERFO in the project, as member of the Stakeholder Advisory Board is to guide the consortium about the preparation of appropriate solid recovered fuel (SRF) for its processing in the pyrolysis plant and to act as a link between the Plastcs2Olefine project and the SRF value chain.

Partners
Partners involved in the Plastics2olefins project: Repsol, Técnicas Reunidas, ETIA, VTT, Lafarge Holcim, PreZero, Ciemat, Smart Innovation Norway, Arttic Innovation GmbH, Denmark Technical University, SCGC Chemicals, Universidad Castilla La Mancha.

SRF

Feedstock for the process (LDPE from light packaging sorting plan)

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Background

With Europe heading for a Circular Economy, there is also recognition that not all waste can be recycled. After separation and sorting a fraction remains for which there is nowadays a sustainable solution: production of Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF). Unlike other waste derived fuels, SRF can be considered sustainable because it is a standardised fuel. European (CEN) and global (ISO) standards assure that the characteristics of SRF are well established and well known. In terms of taxonomy, production and use of SRF need to be recognised as sustainable in order to realise the best sustainable solution for non-recyclable waste.

No competition with recycling

Production of SRF by definition will not compete with recycling. SRF is produced in facilities where waste is sorted into recyclables. As prices for recyclables are favourable compared to prices for SRF, sorting companies aim to maximise the amounts of recyclables. SRF is produced in sound combination with sorting and recycling and adds the best sustainable option for non-recyclable fractions. By developing taxonomy criteria related to SRF, both optimum recovery of recyclables from mixed wastes and optimum energy use of non-recyclable residues can be benefited.

Use of SRF

The main use of SRF is in cement production (co-processing). Cement kilns provide the most energy-effective use for non-recyclable waste. This is also confirmed by the Commissions communication ‘’The role of waste-to-energy in the circular economy’’ [COM(2017)34]. An accompanying benefit is that the inert part in SRF contributes to the formation of clinker. ISO/TC300 is elaborating on a recycling-index to make this visible. Other uses of SRF are for instance in power production and combined heat/power plants.

Contribution to energy supply

By using SRF, primary fuels (gas, coal) are replaced. Production and use of SRF therefore contribute to energy-independency of Europe. It is therefore essential to account for the contribution of SRF in the production of electricity from bioenergy, as described in paragraph 4.8 in the Technical Annex of 2020 to the Taxonomy Report. The same goes for co-generation of heat/cool and power from bioenergy (paragraph 4.20). Besides the allowed feedstocks allowed (biomass, biogas and biofuels) SRF should also be allowed as feedstock. For that, criteria for the manufacture of SRF are needed (to be added in paragraph 4.13).

Whereas generation of heat/cool and power can also be achieved in stand-alone facilities running only on SRF, it is important to also include such plants in the taxonomy scheme. This would require taxonomy criteria to be set for such plants, for instance addressing biomass fraction and maximum proportion of recyclable materials.

Contribution to climate protection

Whereas SRF is partly made up of biogenic material, emission of fossil CO2 is reduced. The reduction of CO2 from co-processing and other uses of SRF is in the range of 350 – 1.000 kg. CO2 eq/ton waste.

Contribution to a Circular Economy

It is important to stress that all efforts must be undertaken to separate waste at source or either sort waste afterwards. It is impossible however to reuse and recycle everything. Even in best performing member states a residual fraction remains. Typically, sorting of waste results in 25-30% residue. Even when design of products and sorting technologies improve, a massive stream of non-recyclable waste will remain in Europe. Cembureau and ERFO have estimated that at least some 60 million tonnes of SRF could be produced in Europe when all member states would implement state-ot-the-art waste management solutions.
SRF is the perfect link between recycling and waste-to-energy. As a part of the sorting/recycling process it does not compete with recycling. Used in cement-kilns it contributes to the formation of clinker. New technologies are being developed to turn SRF into fuels and chemicals. Not acknowledging SRF production and its use in its current and future applications as a sustainable activity within the taxonomy legislation will put Europe back into less sustainable options for waste.

Social aspects

Production of SRF saves existing and creates new jobs. It is an additional step to the sorting/recycling of waste requiring new equipment investment and comparably (to other materials derived from waste) intensive quality control. As an example, in Germany the whole development of SRF has provided a vast amount of work for consultancy firms and research institutes, a new area of laboratory work has been realised and an association has been established. In industry itself SRF production has created new work within companies but also in trading and within companies receiving SRF. As a rough indication, employment effects are more than 3 employees per 1 Mio t € investment.
Production and use of SRF do not create a food or fuel problem, thus preventing negative effects on availability and costs of food as a result of area-competition.

SRF as enabler

The Technical Report on screening criteria for taxonomy acknowledges that switching to alternative fuels benefits decarbonisation of the cement sector. Use of alternative fuels (such as SRF) can reduce carbon intensity of cement production significantly. SRF therefore makes climate-friendly production of cement possible. Similarly, SRF enables climate-friendly energy supply as do other forms of thermal waste treatment.

Conclusion

ERFO believes that thermal use of waste which can not be recycled is most sustainable and should be supported by EU taxonomy. Optimum use of waste includes that first all materials are recovered which can be recycled and that only that part of waste is used for thermal purposes which can not be made available for recycling by means of optimised sorting. The concept of SRF meets all these requirements.

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If you want to read more, please click the link below.

COM (2017) 34 of the European Commission

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