In November 2019, Bristol became the first UK city council to declare a climate emergency, pledging to be carbon neutral by 2030. Its plan to achieve this was released in February 2020, based on a study led by the Centre for Sustainable Energy for which we provided waste expertise.
Drawing on our work with other local authorities, and knowledge of trials already conducted in Bristol, we assessed Bristol’s current waste management and recycling activities and provided advice on the actions required to reduce carbon emissions from waste. All recommendations were based on evidence and considered the Council’s vision for waste management, with parameters agreed in advance; for example, to ensure we only suggested technology which was already in existence and to assume almost full decarbonisation of the grid by 2030.
Using existing data on waste generation, we modelled both residential and commercial future waste production and the actions required to reach net zero carbon. The actions we recommended included:
- Reduction in waste, particularly plastic waste;
- Achievement of at least the 65% recycling target set by the EU’s Circular Economy package;
- Pre-treatment of household waste to remove plastic film; and
- Bio-stabilising residual waste.
A SWOT analysis of the suggested actions enabled the provisional costing of projects, including staffing and facility costs. We also considered the conditions required to enable actions; these included a comprehensive communications and engagement campaign to encourage behaviour change, leadership from businesses and the public sector, and a pay as you throw scheme.
It was also important to consider Bristol’s net zero aim in context of the local, regional and national regulatory environment. Doing so allowed us to recommend pathways which the council had the power to enact, whilst also acknowledging the requirements for action at national level.
Simon Roberts, Chief Executive of the Centre for Sustainable Energy
“Eunomia brought real domain expertise to the challenge of decarbonising Bristol’s waste management activities by 2030, as part of the net zero study we were leading. Their detailed knowledge of technical aspects of waste management sits alongside a refined understanding of the policy, commercial and social context for waste production and waste management. That meant we could really get under the skin of what needs to happen – and what needs to change – both in the city and, more widely, to make progress towards the net zero ambition.”