Incineration Overcapacity Briefing (July 2026)
The Big Plastic Count 2026 revealed that across the UK 59% of our plastic waste is incinerated. Every tonne of plastic burned releases more than two tonnes of fossil CO2. Plastic production and incineration need to be curbed to meet climate ambitions. To support recycling and the low carbon circular economy, the UK Government needs to stop the construction of new incinerators and instead pursue an incineration exit strategy.
Incineration Overcapacity Briefing (September 2023)
Meeting England’s current residual waste targets would reduce potential feedstock for incinerators to around 16.4 million tonnes in 2027, falling to around 11.7 million by 2042. With 19 million tonnes of incineration capacity currently operational or under construction across England, incineration capacity can be expected to exceed available feedstock by 2.6 million tonnes in 2027, with incineration overcapacity in England growing to 7.4 million tonnes by 2042, even if no additional incinerators are built. Further expansion of incineration in England would increase overcapacity at local, regional and national levels, harming current and future efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle.
