ETS for EfW Webinar Q&A: Would MBT Be A Good Solution To Overcoming The Rising Costs Of EfW Inclusion In ETS?
We’re back again with the third blog in our series, answering some of the audience’s questions from our webinar with Materials Recycling World about how independent waste operators can prepare for the inclusion of Energy from Waste in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
In this blog, we’ll answer the question: Would MBT be a good solution to overcome the rising costs of EfW inclusion in ETS?
In short, the answer is yes – and here’s why.
Mechanical biological treatment (MBT) is a generic term for various residual waste treatment processes involving mechanical and biological treatment of non-recyclable municipal solid waste (MSW).
Aerobic MBT technology uses the naturally generated heat produced during biological degradation to dry and may also stabilise MSW. MBT plants are used to separate mixed waste streams, typically from MSW, into a range of products) such as metals and glass, high calorific value refuse-derived fuels (RDF) suitable for incineration, and wet biodegradable slurries suitable for either composting or anaerobic digestion.
With the impending inclusion of EfW under the ETS from 2028, rising gate fees and price hikes on the horizon, waste handlers will need other disposal routes or processing methods, particularly for waste that can’t be recycled – and MBT is an obvious option. However, until now, accessing this process has been expensive and required significant infrastructure.
Advetec’s unique biotechnology acts as a mini version of MBT, and the small, modular nature of the system opens up a much more comprehensive array of options for independent waste handlers. By removing the waste’s moisture, it proportionally increases the biogenic carbon fraction of non-recyclable waste—not subject to ETS tax—while stabilising waste so it can’t break down further and becomes AT4 compliant.
Like traditional aerobic MBT plants, it dries waste so it can be separated and recycled if necessary. Crucially, it not only dries waste but eats the organic fraction out of it, making it much easier for further segregation and creating high-value SRF. This commodity can be offloaded at much lower prices than landfill, EfW, and soon exported.
This tax will catalyse more waste handlers to embrace waste innovation to reduce operating costs, gain a competitive edge, and grow profit margins. Technology that unlocks alternative offtake routes such as SRF or PRN and harnesses the potential of biogenic carbon will be a critical tool for overcoming rising costs.
Click here to discover how Advetec’s ‘mini MBT’ can help you avoid the price hikes associated with landfill and EfW.