Guidance on formula for calculating energy efficiency bring drawn up

The Commission and Member States are finalising a commission guidance document on the interpretation of the so-called r1 formula. This formula is included in annex ii of the waste framework directive to calculate the energy efficiency of municipal solid waste incinerators and is used to determine if the installation is considered as recovery facility or not.

The draft guidance document gives a rather wide interpretation. The scope of the r1 formula does not only cover municipal solid waste. If the facility also incinerates other waste together with the municipal waste, this is also included in the r1 calculation. In addition, the internal use of energy of the incinerator is considered as an output and hence increases the energy efficiency of the incinerator.

The Commission expects to finalise and publish the non-binding guidelines early 2011. The issue of the climate factor will be handled in a separate commission decision on which the tac will be consulted in the first half of 2011.

CEMBUREAU will prepare a paper on the interpretation of the r1 formula.