The European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) Technical committee on Solid Recovered Fuels (CEN/TEC343) has recently been instructed by the European Commission to draw up technical specifications for the use of solid recovered fuels (SRFs) in waste incineration facilities and in industrial co-combustion plants.

EUWID reports that the Commission is interested in a method that could define SRFs that fall under the EU directive on the promotion of energy from renewable sources.

In the view of the Commission the co-incineration of SRFs requires a stable supply of pre-treated and homogenous wastes upgraded to a fuel quality. Wastes suitable for recycling should not in principle be used as SRFs. However, says the Commission, recyclable wastes should not be excluded from SRF production as this could lead to landfill disposal and the consequential loss of embedded resources.

CEN is expected to be able to report back to the Commission in 18 months.