Delays to plans to include waste incineration in UK Emissions Trading Scheme
The incorporation of waste incineration in the scheme from 2028 will not take place as planned.
The 2024 UK ETS Expansion to Waste Consultation set out an intention to include waste incineration from 1 January 2028.
The new timeline is yet to be released, and will include full details on final policy design, allowing sufficient time for implementation, says the UK ETS Authority.
The associated consultation sought to inform implementation details, such as:
- The scope of the scheme
- Participating in the scheme, including requirements for operators, monitoring, reporting and verification and guidance,
- Impacts of the scheme and risks, including diversion of waste to landfill and waste export, decarbonisation pathways for customers, cost pass through to customers and equality considerations
- How to adjust the UK ETS cap for waste
- How the UK ETS could potentially incentivise investment in heat networks.
The full statement on the delay is available online.
The UK ETS Authority made the confirmation with the acknowledgement that they are aware that a lack of certainty regarding expansion is undermining the ability of local authorities and industry to plan and budget for the future.
