Each year the UK alone landfills 100m tonnes of waste, with one tonne of biodegradable waste producing between 200 and 400m3 of landfill gas. Under the EU Landfill Directive, all new landfill sites are required to capture the methane produced, with energy recovery being the preferred option. It is estimated that around 70 percent of landfill gas is currently flared or utilised. The main financial incentive for methane capture in the UK is provided through Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) under the Renewables Obligation, which has improved the cost-effectiveness of landfill gas electricity production. In fact, for most renewable technologies the value of a ROC will represent the single largest element of value and perhaps 60 percent of the income stream to a project.
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