Andrew has written to the new Energy Minister, Claire Coutinho, to ask what she will do to ensure the Government’s recycling targets are met.
Andrew has previously been in contact with Grant Shapps, Coutinho’s predecessor, asking why incinerators will be exempt from the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) until 2028. The UK ETS is a kay part of the UK’s approach to addressing climate change, setting a limit on emissions from the sectors covered and ensuring an appropriate price is applied to them.
Andrew contends that an earlier date for the inclusion of incinerators in the UK ETS is desirable as incineration, a polluting industry which produces 7 million tonnes of carbon per annum, disincentives recycling. In his letter to the new Minister, Andrew pointed out that the Government's Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 includes an interim target on residual waste. The Plan states, ‘The residual waste target is underpinned by the following interim targets, by 31 January 2028: Reduce residual waste (excluding major mineral waste) produced per person by 24%; ... Reduce municipal residual waste produced per person by 29%...’.
Andrew said;
‘I very much welcome the 2023 Environmental Improvement Plan. Consequently, I would like the new Minister to look again at the exemption of incinerators from the ETS until 2028 since we are aiming to dramatically reduce residual waste by then. Incinerators require a constant supply of waste and so they disincentive recycling whilst also pumping carbon into the atmosphere.’
Andrew has also taken the opportunity to question the fairness of banning new oil boilers from off-grid homes from 2026. He said;
‘People in remoter areas have very little choice in what fuel they use and a large proportion of them just can’t afford expensive heat pumps.’