Scope 3 Emission Climate Disaster: Burning Waste-to-Energy

With the UK's last coal-fired power plant shutting down in September, Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station marks a milestone in the transition from Carbon dioxide fuelled energy production.

Although this shift seems to be a step forward in the race for Net-Zero, it raises serious concerns about Scope 3 emissions.

The waste-to-energy process results in substantial indirect emissions throughout the waste value chain, undermining the country’s climate and sustainability goals.

Environmental Impact

The environmental impact of waste incineration is substantial.

Despite making such a conscious move away from fossil-fuel burning practices, BBC analysis reveals that burning household rubbish in giant incinerators to generate electricity is now the most polluting form of power generation in the UK.

With 46% of plastic waste produced in UK homes being incinerated, five times more pollution than the average UK unit of electricity is being made.

Plastic waste, in particular, produces 175 times more CO₂ when burned than buried in landfills.

This significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions causes roughly 3.1% of the UK’s energy to come from waste incinerators.

Climate Goals and Net Zero

Waste incineration poses a significant challenge to the UK's net zero goals.

When burned, food waste produces less harmful greenhouse gases when burned, unlike oil-based plastics, which have the opposite effect.

UK Climate Change Committee’s Professor Keith Bell says in relation to the BBC's findings: “If the current government is serious about clean power by 2030, then we cannot allow ourselves to be locked into just burning waste.”

The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Net Zero by 2050 Roadmap sets out more than 400 milestones for what needs to be done and when to decarbonise the global economy in three decades.

The IEA explain that incineration is not a viable solution to the plastic crisis, citing its impact on the climate, air quality and human health.

Carbon Capture and Technology

Most incineration facilities lack carbon capture technology, leaving emissions unchecked.

The absence of mitigation measures exacerbates the environmental impact of waste incineration, further undermining efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Scientists also warn that waste incineration practices are a “disaster for the climate” and an “insane situation.”

The University of Southampton's Applied Environmental Science Professor, Dr Ian Williams, says: “The current practice of burning waste for energy and building more and more incinerators for this purpose is at odds with our desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"Increasing its use is disastrous for our climate.”. 

Global Expansion and Future Concerns

Despite environmental concerns, the global expansion of waste incineration continues to drive significant Scope 3 emissions.

New plants are being built, adding to the indirect emissions associated with the end-of-life treatment of sold products and waste management in global supply chains.

This trend undermines international efforts to reduce emissions and achieve clean power targets and raises concerns about long-term sustainability and the alignment with Scope 3 reduction goals.

The continued reliance on incineration contradicts commitments to cut value chain emissions and threatens to lock industries into carbon-intensive waste management practices.

Scope 3 Categories Impacted

• Category 5 - Waste generated in operations - Emissions from disposing of business waste without carbon capture.
• Category 3 - Fuel and energy-related activities
• Category 1 - Purchased goods and services (related to waste management)
• Category 9 - Transportation and distribution - Emissions from distributing energy produced by incineration.
• Category 12 - End-of-life treatment of sold products - Emissions from incinerating products like plastics without mitigation.
• Category 4 - Upstream transportation and distribution - Emissions from transporting waste to incinerators.
• Category 10 - Processing of Sold Products - Emissions from incineration of goods post-consumer use.

The lack of carbon capture increases emissions in these categories, impacting Scope 3 totals.

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