Green Alternatives to Incineration in Scotland

I am concerned about the apparent conflict between the need to minimise dioxin emissions, and Scottish Government policy of maximising the use of heat generated by waste incinerators by means of district heating schemes. This concerns the potential for the de novo formation of dioxins and furans.

The Environment Agency’s guidance on waste incineration [1] states (at 2.1.7):

“Slow rates of combustion gas cooling should be avoided to minimise the potential for the de novo formation of dioxins and furans”,

adding (at 2.7.3),

“…the primary concern of safe waste disposal may be jeopardised by additional energy recovery (e.g. the need for rapid cooling to prevent de novo dioxin generation)."

Please let me know what conditions are imposed by SEPA on waste incinerator operators to reduce this risk, in particular where district heating systems are proposed.

Yours sincerely

Michael Gallagher

[1] ‘Sector Guidance Note IPPC S5.01 Guidance for the Incineration of Waste and Fuel Manufactured from or Including Waste’, the Environment Agency 2001 – accessed 28 September 2011