Biffa’s Commitment to Carbon Management
The traditional, dominant waste management route of landfill is being replaced in favour of other routes. Driving this change is the Landfill Directive that seeks to reduce the quantity of fugitive methane emissions and mitigate the carbon footprint from managing waste.
Biffa’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint is reflected in its transition to a recovery-centric strategy, which focuses on recovering dry mixed recyclables (DMR) from waste streams and treating organic waste via anaerobic digestion (AD) to generate renewable energy.
Since 2008, we have seen a reduction in carbon emissions in absolute terms arising from our energy usage and were awarded the Carbon Saver Gold Standard as a result. We aim to:
- Reduce our energy usage (per tonnage throughput) by 10%;
- Reduce our transport emissions (per tonnage moved) by 10%;
- Reduce fugitive landfill gas emission by 10%.
We are uniquely placed as a business in terms of our carbon footprint because our primary activities directly influence Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions (as defined in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative). It is Biffa’s policy to reduce the climate change burden of our operations by focusing on the areas that we can directly influence:
Reducing Scope 1 Emissions of Landfill Methane
Diverting waste via DMR routes to realise the recyclate and via AD routes to harness the latent energy in food waste reduces the quantity of waste being landfilled and therefore the potential for fugitive methane emissions.
Our engineered landfill sites capture on average 80% of gas produced and generate renewable energy, making a significant contribution to UK’s renewable energy portfolio. On average we generate approximately 20 times more electricity than we consume.
Reducing Scope 2 Emissions from Energy Consumption
Biffa is mandated to reduce its energy consumption as a participant in the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC EES) and is committed to reducing energy usage in absolute and relative terms.
We have upgraded our existing electricity meters to Automated Meter Reading (AMR) meters and installed data loggers on all of our gas meters. This will enable us to track energy usage and implement energy reduction programmes where appropriate.
Increasing Avoided Scope 3 Emissions from Materials Recovery
Collection of DMR and investment in recycling facilities enable the recycling potential of waste streams collected by Biffa to be maximised. This reduces the need for energy associated with primary materials production.
By understanding our carbon footprint, we are able to assist customers and clients with managing and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their waste. We have a critical role in educating society on reducing carbon and embedding the waste hierarchy into the social psyche.
Our commitment to managing and reducing our emissions ensures that we will play our part in helping Government move towards its 2050 carbon reduction target of 80%.
This policy statement will be displayed prominently, or available to view, at all sites and workplaces and will be kept under review to ensure its continuing relevance.
To view a copy of our Carbon Policy statement please click on this link.
Ian Wakelin Chief Executive
01 Dec 2011
Coronation Road, Cressex Business Park
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP12 3TZ
01494 521 221
www.biffa.co.uk
