The Burning Issue

For the fourth episode of the fifth series, the Burning Issue talks to Gavin Anderson, head of policy and stakeholder engagement at Veolia about the UK government’s plans to include energy-from-waste (EfW) plants under the scope of the emissions trading scheme This episode discusses:  Whether the expansion of the UK emissions trading scheme is the right solution for decarbonising the waste se...

For the third episode of the fifth series, the Burning Issue talks to Micheal Geary, commercial and business development director at Indaver Ireland and UK, about progress on the company's new Rivenhall Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) in Essex. This episode discusses:  How work is progressing on the Rivenhall plant  Some of the challenges faced during the project and how they...

For the second episode of the fifth series, the Burning Issue talks to Andy Bedford, low carbon development director at Encyclis, about the development of the UK's first full scale carbon capture facility for the energy-from-waste (EfW) sector.   This episode discusses:  Andy's role in leading the Protos carbon capture project and the story behind the development The challenges faced and...

For the first episode of the fifth series, the Burning Issue talks to Enfinium’s Mike Maudsley on his role as chair of Resource Recovery UK and on how Enfinium is taking major steps forward in delivering homegrown energy and decarbonisation powered by waste.   This episode discusses:  How industry alliance Resource Recovery UK (RRUK) is advocating on behalf of the energy-from-waste (EfW)...

For the fifth episode of the fourth series, the Burning Issue looks at health and safety in the EfW sector. This episode focuses on:  What happens when something does go wrong at an EfW build “Accidents are tragic, but they can be powerful catalysts for change” What are businesses doing to support social sustainability Will the spread of AI support H&S and what problem could it bring Company...

For the fourth episode of the fourth series, the Burning Issue looks at the state of the market for investors in EfW and bioenergy This episode focuses on: Why the company is called Green Giraffe  How it’s raised £35bn  Why heating prisons with EfW is a captivating concept  SAF is a hugely growing sector Could failed gasification plants be converted to waste-to-X projects  How...

Severnside Carbon Capture and Shipping Hub (7CO2) directors Paul Davies and Keith Birch tell the Burning Issue of the advantage of non-pipeline carbon capture and how it is developing. This episode focuses on: Advantages of flexible non-pipeline carbon capture  As the EfW becomes “saturated, CCS is the big area for growth” Why energy recovery can put the ‘Net in Net Zero’ Track 2 could see “s...

Encylis director of policy and sustainability Victoria Merton on carbon capture at Protos, building more facilities and banning recyclets and biogenics from landfill by 2028 This episode focuses on: How a team of skilled engineers are looking to build CCS across Encyclis’ portfolio  Being a year ahead of nearest rival on full-scale EfW carbon capture project  Development of the Protos pl...

Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) chief executive Bruno-Frédéric Baudouin tells EWB editor Luke Walsh talks about how the business is developing a new generation of waste processing plants. This episode focuses on: HZI evolving progressively into the leading EfW builder globally How the business has, mostly, avoided the financial issues plaguing other EPC builders  Moving into the O&M market Fix...

EWB editor Luke Walsh talks to Enfinium's director of external affairs and strategic policy Karl Smyth about building carbon capture at the UK’s largest EfW site  This episode focuses on: Developing a CCS pilot at the Ferrybridge EfW site next month  What comes next after the permitting pause and expected strategic review of EfW capacity  With a general election due will a change of...

EWB editor Luke Walsh talks ESA executive director Jacob Hayler as the development and future of the UK’s energy-from-waste sector is thrown into the air by the government’s controversial block on new environmental permits.  This episode focuses on:  Could an EfW moratorium be in Labour’s general election manifesto   “Political interference” in the permitting process Should DEF...

EWB editor Luke Walsh talks to Gallagher partner Ian Lester. This podcast covers: Why insurers won’t be covering the permitting process anymore  Operational plants unable to find insurance  Understanding the risks around carbon capture  Finding a box of hand grenades dumped in waste SAF projects are “receiving a lot of interest” Fires in Netherlands and US have concerned insurers co...

EWB editor Luke Walsh talks to Waste Knot Energy’s CEO Ian Jones. This episode focuses on: Developing a new market for waste-derived pellets Exporting pellets from the UK for the first time  Why the government needs to provide a framework for the EA and other departments “to be more successful” How biogas could reduce WKE’s CO2 footprint to “almost zero” Why more businesses will enter the was...

EWB editor Luke Walsh talks to OCO managing director Graham Cooper. This episode focuses on: What goes into producing limestone aggregate Using “expensive carbon intensive and non-renewable materials is an outdated view” Landfilling APCr through derogations needs to be “looked at”  Pushing the business beyond the UK  How does OCO’s carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) technology work? Th...

EWB editor Luke Walsh talks to KEW Technology and Circular Fuels’ head of sustainability, ESG and policy. This episode focuses on: Why KEW is out in the market now after years of technology development  How the company is changing industry views on gasification technology  Growing from a team of ten to 100  The waste sector needs a “unified voice” over lack of clarity around UK ETS...

EWB editor Luke Walsh talks to Sikla’s head of sales for the UK, Ireland, Oceania and North America, Harry Starke.  This episode focuses on: If Germany and France have 100+ EfWs each why shouldn’t the UK? What is was like working on the the troubled “three + one” EfW and biomass projects  Why developers need to take steel measurements seriously  Dealing with EPC and other contractor...

EWB editor Luke Walsh talks to the current president of Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and former group head of sustainability at Viridor Dan Cooke. This episode focuses on: The UK is developing “world-class regulation” Emissions trading scheme and the impact it will have How Viridor moved from landfill to EfW and what happened in between There are still capacity gaps for mercha...

EWB editor Luke Walsh talks to the outspoken National Association of Waste Disposal Officers (NAWDO) secretary and City of Westminster’s waste and recycling manager Jarno Stet This episode focuses on: Social media and does it still have a place for professionals How Westminister developed a waste collection fleet powered on the waste it collects Will producing hydrogen from waste be the next big t...

For the first episode of series three, the Burning Issue podcast returns to the waste exports market to discover if 2023’s increase in tonnages would continue  EWB editor Luke Walsh talks to Geminor country manager UK Oliver Caunce about being the largest exporter of waste from the UK, how the company got to that position, and how it hopes to stay there as its rivals evolve.  This episod...

The Burning Issue looks at different elements of the energy recovery sector, taking the starting point that while energy recovery has moved some waste out of landfill, where does the sector go from here?   In the final episode of series two, the Burning Issue speaks to Christopher Philpot, senior associate at Trowers & Hamlins LLP. Philpot shines a light on the legal action that has followed...

Every fortnight the Burning Issue looks at different elements of the energy recovery sector, taking the starting point that while energy recovery has moved some waste out of landfill, where does the sector go from here? In this eighth episode of series two, the Burning Issue speaks to Hattie Parke as she takes on a new role as director of climate at the government-owned public-private partnership...

Every fortnight the Burning Issue looks at different elements of the energy recovery sector, taking the starting point that while energy recovery has moved some waste out of landfill, where does the sector go from here? In this seventh episode of series two, the Burning Issue speaks to Marr Contracting managing director Simon Marr , chair of the RDF Industry Group and managing director of Totus En...

Every fortnight the Burning Issue looks at different elements of the energy recovery sector, taking the starting point that while energy recovery has moved some waste out of landfill, where does the sector go from here? In this sixth episode of series two, the Burning Issue speaks to Andy Jones, chair of the RDF Industry Group and managing director of Totus Environmental.  The episode focuses...

Every fortnight the Burning Issue looks at different elements of the energy recovery sector, taking the starting point that while energy recovery has moved some waste out of landfill, where does the sector go from here? In this fifth episode of series two, the Burning Issue speaks to Tim Rotheray, director of ESG and external affairs at Viridor.  The episode focuses on: Forecasting a ban on n...

Every fortnight the Burning Issue looks at different elements of the energy recovery sector, taking the starting point that while energy recovery has moved some waste out of landfill, where does the sector go from here? In this fourth episode of series two, the Burning Issue speaks to Selin Murat of Carbon8 on the developing market for carbon capture.  The episode focuses on: The UK’s expandi...