There have been a series of reports this year produced by the private sector over whether or not the UK needs new waste management facilities, such as energy from waste plants.

The majority have said there remains a strong need and over capacity is a long way off.

Now, the government has decided to try and find out for itself and the National Infrastructure Commission has commissioned a waste infrastructure study amid the growing debate about waste capacity in the UK.

The study is part of the government’s wider National Infrastructure Assessment which is assessing the UK’s long-term infrastructure needs.

The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC), has explained that the purpose of the study will be to “identify the best value infrastructure investment strategy, weighing the costs of separation and different treatment/disposal pathways against the economic, environmental and social benefits”.

The NIC is an “independent body” providing the government with advice on major long-term infrastructure challenges. The study is part of the NIC’s National Infrastructure Assessment which is assessing the UK’s long-term infrastructure needs across a 10 to 30 year horizon.

Consultancy Anthesis has won the tender to carry out the study entitled ‘National Infrastructure Assessment: Waste Infrastructure Analysis’.

Consisting of two stages, the analysis will first assess the costs and benefits of increasing separation within the waste infrastructure system, covering a number of options including the separation of food waste, biodegradable waste and plastics from the residual waste stream.

The second stage of the analysis will assess the costs and benefits of directing the separated waste streams down different treatment/disposal pathways.