Food & Drink Process & Packaging Issue 22 2019 | Page 64

UK on borrowed time to meet carbon targets – 200 million tonnes of savings identified In research conducted by Veolia and district heating capacity in UK ERFs. been converted to electric. Making Imperial College, the waste and resource If ERFs utilise their ability to deliver this change will improve air quality sector is projected to single-handedly district heating to local business and as well as contribute to long term save over 200 million tonnes of carbon residents it could generate 530 MW climate goals. Saving 400,000 emissions between the years 2023 - of heat; cutting carbon emissions tonnes of CO2 in emissions. 2032, with more than 10% contributed by 570,000 tonnes and saving the to the UK’s anticipated carbon budget average homeowner £90 per year shortfall during this time period. Resource through lower heating bills. management leader, Veolia expects to deliver over 8 million tonnes of this total. • Recycling 500,000 tonnes of plastic waste - this includes films and The UK won’t fulfil its carbon reduction pots, tubs and trays. Better design commitments at current rates of in manufacturing combined with emission mitigation, but the waste and upgrading recycling facilities will help resource sector is powering ahead with save over 1 million tonnes of CO2 a variety of energy saving solutions to emissions. redress this imbalance. These include: • • 50% of all diesel trucks, vans and Energy Recovery Facilities (ERFs) cars in the waste/resource sector to use district heating - currently to be replaced by electric - currently there is only 215 megawatt (MW) of only a handful of diesel trucks have 64 FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk Richard Kirkman, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer: “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to controlling climate change. Veolia, and the resource sector more broadly, has the technology at its disposal and the willpower to ensure not only Britain upholds its carbon commitments but is the bellwether for green and sustainable alternatives. “Our research suggests the waste and resource sector will save an additional 23 million tonnes of CO2 by 2032 - a significant portion of the carbon budget