Confederation of British Industry (CBI), a UK-based business organization, has said that the British government needs to encourage the use of non-recyclable waste to meet the country's energy needs.
Launching a new report ‘Going to waste: Making the case for energy from waste’, the business group has highlighted that energy from waste can play an important role in a broad-based energy mix, which improves energy security.
With strong leadership from the government on planning, financing and procurement, the UK can quadruple the proportion of energy it generates from waste from 1.5% to 6% by 2015.
CBI also warned that unless urgent steps are taken to cut landfill use, the UK will face fines from the European Union of around £182.5m a year.
CBI director of business environment Neil Bentley said that non-recyclable waste can be used to heat homes and produce electricity, as well as improving energy security.
"The government needs to encourage the development of more anaerobic digestion and incineration plants, and tackle delays in the planning system," Bentley said.