10 takeaways from the RDF Conference

RDF conference 2024 - feature image

London’s Congress Centre played host to another successful RDF Conference last month, as the LetsRecycle team – plus an army of industry partners and sponsors – welcomed hundreds of delegates keen to debate the latest challenges, opportunities and trends.

While a majority UK audience, it was a pleasant surprise to be joined by peers, experts and operators from overseas too. From developments in Brussels, to the latest alternative fuel production data, honest accounts of life at the coalface for RDF manufacturers, and technological innovations that will continue to drive much-needed change, the day’s discussions packed a punch.

UNTHA UK’s internal sales lead Lewis Horne, installations supervisor Darren McDonnell, and global marketing director Katie Mallinson, attended to represent our own presence in the industry, with Katie also chairing a four-speaker session in the afternoon. Here are the team’s 10 key takeaways from the day:

1. With the UK EfW market reportedly approaching saturation, facilities’ efficiency is key. Improving the pre-treatment process to optimise the removal of recyclate and biogenic content, was a big topic for the day. A lesser-discussed theme was the energy efficiency of RDF production technology itself.

A growing number of fuel producers are acknowledging the environmental and financial benefits of switching to electric-driven waste shredders – compared to their diesel hydraulic equivalents – which is great. But an overwhelming number still do not realise it’s  feasible to power a machine such as the UNTHA XR, using solar energy! Just check out our award-winning customer site – PSH Environmental – to see exactly what’s possible with pioneering thinking.

2. The landfill debate rumbles on, not least with 13 million tonnes of MSW said to have still been sent to landfill, in 2022, and the standard landfill tax set to rise to £126.15 in 2025-26. Responses of the consultation to limit biodegradable waste to landfill (England) are still being analysed, but the industry is crying out for some joined up policy thinking.

3. One speaker stated that they believe the UK’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) – like the landfill tax movement – could be a powerful catalyst for change. However the picture is extremely complex, and the cost implications of the scheme cannot be underestimated.

4. The ‘Green Deal’ has been the so-called buzz phrase within European Government over the last five years, but one of the hottest topics moving forward looks to be ‘competitiveness’. A tsunami of legislation, set out at pace, is said to have caused an overwhelming sense of uncertainty for many, so the focus now has to be on coherence, if Europe is to avoid falling behind nations like China. Achieving coherence is perhaps easier said than done, given the differing views among a newly divided Parliament. But there is a definite call for simplicity and support with Green Deal implementation.

5. It’s absolutely a challenging backdrop, but the CEWEP believes that the WtE sector doesn’t just have the potential to be carbon neutral, but carbon negative!

6. ESG reporting is falling under increasing scrutiny in the UK and wider EU, with entire supply chains being evaluated for their environmental impact. This is not fresh news for the majority of the industry, but organisations who still deem ESG a ‘tick box exercise’ could soon find themselves struggling to answer tricky due diligence questions.

7. A special ‘shout out’ must go to our favourite two speakers of the day – Andrea Dobson, technical manager at Enva, and Stephen Wise, chief strategic development officer at Advetec (and not just because these two brands are among UNTHA UK’s customer base!) These knowledgeable alternative fuel experts spoke with passion, unparalleled expertise and absolute ease, when considering the challenges, advancements and future potential of our industry. Bravo!

Andrea urged for collaboration – particularly with trade bodies – so that the industry has a voice as it tries to navigate legislative changes. And Stephen demonstrated just what is possible with advanced waste treatment methods, but spoke of the need to keep talking, as people ‘don’t know what they don’t know’.

8. POPs continued to remain the elephant in the room, with a lack of facilities accepting them, increased challenges from regulators, and more new POPs said to be coming. “Should POPs be exempt from ETS?” was one of the questions on the day…

9. It was perhaps unsurprising to hear increased references to AI throughout the sessions, particularly when discussing engineering advancements that drive greater capacities within facilities, improve output fuel quality, and push progress up the waste hierarchy. It just goes to show that even if you think you are already familiar with what a machinery manufacturer can do, talk to them about your evolving requirements – the chances are the more innovative suppliers are already thinking about how to protect your investment long into the future.

10. As one of the final speakers summarised towards the end of the day, “We’re not short of waste”, with the latest figures (September 2024) pointing to 1.82 million tonnes of RDF and SRF exports. It’s not an easy market at times, with competition, energy pricing variances, changing weather patterns and storage volumes, just some of the factors affecting performance. But a world of potential still exists out there, when it comes to transforming residual waste into a valuable energy source. Let’s keep working together to maximise margins, fuel quality, and capacity, as we push on into 2025 and beyond.

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