Survey Reveals Views Of Waste And Energy Sectors
27 September 2011
A survey taken at this year's RWM in partnership with CIWM has revealed views of the waste and energy from waste (EfW) sectors on a range of industry-critical issues, including the planning system, legislative targets and new forms of energy generation
More than 200 visitors to the annual RWM exhibition were questioned by construction, infrastructure and design business, Morgan Sindall, with the results showing a strong divergence of views on hot topics facing the sector.
On the planning process, respondents to the survey noted a shift to more acceptance of new waste infrastructure with 38 percent agreeing that the age of the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) is passing, replaced by PIMBY (Please In My Back Yard) - people who see the social and economic benefits of new developments, such as waste infrastructure. Just 19 percent believed that old attitudes remain, agreeing that NIMBYs are here to stay.
On new forms of energy generation, views towards recovering energy from crematoria were explored with 77 percent agreeing that it was "a great idea" and only 5 percent thinking it "a bad idea". The concept has been controversial since, earlier this year, Redditch Borough Council announced plans to heat a local swimming pool using the energy from a crematorium.
On legislative targets, there was overwhelming support (80 percent) for the view that that the UK would achieve government targets to increase the amount of energy generated from renewable sources to 15 percent by 2020. Over a third (36 percent) thought that legislation has been the most important factor in the UK achieving current levels of recycling, energy and carbon reduction against 46 percent who believed that financial considerations have played the strongest role.
Respondents were also asked to select a technology or process that they believed has the biggest role to play in transforming waste management in the UK. The most popular choice was anaerobic digestion (33 percent) followed by incineration (26 percent), gasification (8 percent) and pyrolysis (7 percent).
Andy King, sector leader for energy and waste at Morgan Sindall, comments: "We passionately believe that inspirational design can generate greater public acceptance of new waste facilities and that this, in turn, will help the country meet its renewable energy targets.
"The results of this survey make fascinating reading and emphasise how diverse views in the sector are. The findings echo what we heard from many people on the stand at RWM - there are positive messages on planning and renewable energy, and we are heartened that attitudes to delivering new infrastructure are moving in the right direction."
Darrel Moore
