RDF Industry Group

The RDF Industry Group is comprised of 30+ members from across the European waste derived fuel (WDF) supply chain. These encompass companies that produce fuel from residual waste; through those that ship, transport and test WDF; and those that recover energy from WDF such as energy-from-waste (EfW) facility operators and the cement industry. The Group provides a platform for the industry to explore opportunities and issues surrounding the export of WDF across Europe. WDF encompasses refuse derived fuel (RDF) and solid recovered fuel (SRF). RDF is a generic term used to describe residual waste (i.e. non-recyclable mixed waste) which has undergone processing that allows it to be burnt as a fuel for energy. This can range from minimal sorting to complex mechanical and/or biological treatment. SRF goes through additional processing to improve its quality and value and, as it has a higher calorific value than RDF, is often used in facilities with high energy demands such as cement kilns. Shipments of WDF are highly controlled and regulated in accordance with EU Waste Shipment Regulations. The export of residual waste, that otherwise would have been landfilled, allows a significant amount of material to be moved up the waste hierarchy - a principle enshrined within both UK and EU law. Movement of WDF allows countries that have insufficient residual waste treatment capacity, to avoid landfill and use energy recovery capacity available in other nations. The additional transport required for WDF is (contrary to popular opinion), only a very small proportion of the overall carbon saved through landfill diversion. Sending waste to landfill instead of energy recovery (electricity and heat) emits an additional 261 kg of CO2e per tonne of waste (comparison between Dutch energy recovery and UK landfill). This is more than ten times the emissions generated per tonne when treated in the Netherlands.