Never before has the subject of future energy supply been so visible in the media and as a matter of public concern. The debate is fuelled by a whole range of factors - concern for the global climate, ensuring secure supplies of oil and other fossil fuels, the need to protect energy infrastructure against possible attack, the high price of oil. And every now and again, one or other technology is presented by its proponents as ‘the’ solution that could hold all the answers. Hydrogen perhaps, or nuclear power, or ‘clean’ coal.
Of course there is no single ‘magic’ answer. Rather, an intelligent mix of energy-saving and energy-producing solutions are the way forward.
And while it is important for governments to fund research into new, future energy technologies, it is rather more important for them to tackle issues of planning and implementation right now. This can be tough, and may risk votes - think of the issues of siting new power lines, or wind farms, or energy-from-waste plants - so needs the right level of public education behind it to ease acceptance.
As the waste industry is increasingly aware, the ‘waste’ streams it handles are not waste at all, but a materials and energy resource. This issue of Waste Management World contains our annual ‘Special’ on waste-to-energy and thermal treatment. It highlights a range of technologies and good-practice solutions for thermally treating waste and using non-recyclables to generate electricity and/or usable heat.
With energy so visibly on the agenda, it’s important to highlight the contribution to the mix that can come from the waste sector.
Jackie Jones
Editorial Director
