Following the election SERA is looking to continue positive parliamentary engagement on environmental issues over the course of the next four years. SERA held a number of influential seminars in 2004/05 ensuring some positive environmental policy developments. All seminars are based on a set strategic priorities in relation achieving environmental progress.

SERA attempts to engage industry and NGO stakeholders with senior government ministers and key MPs. SERA has published a number of consultation responses and briefings as a result of previously convened seminars. MPs have found such seminar output to be a useful environmental information source.

The government is under pressure to meet renewable energy and landfill targets enshrined in the Utilities Act 2000 and Waste and Emissions Trading Act respectively. There is a huge potential for renewable energy derived from waste to meet both climate change targets and waste diversion targets.

The EU Renewable Energy directive recognises the biomass fraction of mixed wastes and electricity produced from mixed waste using advanced conversion technologies as a source of renewable energy. The rationale for this policy is twofold; the potential of these technologies to offer more efficient and environmentally beneficial forms of electricity generation, and, the desire not to counteract measures to reduce waste.

Under the Landfill tax directive the UK government must ensure that by 2015 over 33% of UK waste is recycled or composted. This precludes the utilisation of at least 33% of total waste as a fuel source. In addition, the UK must ensure that 10% of electricity is sourced from renewable sources by 2010. As a consequence energy from waste must meet certain criteria in order to qualify for Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs). In order to achieve this the UK must legislate effectively on a number of policy initiatives.

There is a need to use the Renewables Obligation (RO) strategically to ensure that energy produced from waste, especially unseparated MSW, is sustainable and does not run counter to emissions targets. At the same time the RO must encourage the generation of as much renewable power from waste as possible without diminishing the value of ROCs.

In order to prevent ROCs from perversely incentivising incineration of the waste hierarchy Waste Disposal Authorities must show that Landfill targets have been achieved prior to claiming ROC eligibility from incineration.

SERA wishes to pursue the opportunity to positively effect government policy. The ROCs from waste project will involve a stakeholder engagement seminar aimed at ensuring diverse stakeholder representation. This process will result in the submission of evidence to the UK government consultation and ensure that member organisations are engaged in the review of the Renewables Obligation from the outset. The issues covered in the consultation are substantial and SERA hopes to focus the seminar and respective consultation responses on those that it feels are most important.

The consultation requests views on a number of issues in relation to waste. SERA will focus the seminar on certain issues pertinent to the consultation.

Currently, the DTI are re-examining ROC eligibility rules in the area of mixed wastes. The seminar and resultant consultation response will consider:

• ROCs for electricity generated from the biomass fraction of all mixed wastes, whatever the technology.

• ROCs for electricity generated from the biomass fraction of mixed wastes using advanced conversion technologies, as per current rules, plus ROCs for the electricity generated from the biomass fraction of Refuse Derived or Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) which meets certain criteria or specifications.

• In addition, the discussion will review the role increased landfill tax can make towards energy capture from waste, recycling and resource re-use.