Ban on food waste being sent to landfill

There’s been a call for a ban on all biodegradable waste being sent to landfill. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) says that it is necessary if the UK is to reach ‘net zero emissions’ by 2050.

The CCC provide independent advice to government on building a low-carbon economy and preparing for climate change. In May 2019 they published ‘Net Zero - The UK’s contribution to stopping global warming’, setting out what different sectors need to do.

The waste industry is tasked with a range of actions to reduce food waste, but the CCC also calls for an outright ban on all biodegradable waste from going to landfill. ‘Biodegradable waste streams should not be sent to landfill after 2025. This will require regulation and enforcement, with supporting actions through the waste chain, including for example mandatory separation of remaining waste.’

An estimated 10.2 million tonnes of food waste were generated in the UK in 2018. With food waste sent to landfill being 27 times more harmful to the environment than anaerobic digestion, it is clear why the CCC says an outright ban is necessary. Significantly, the recommendations are based on the necessary technology, such as the BioWhale system, already being in existence.

The complete report can be downloaded from the CCC website.