Commercial waste to energy recovery emission factor by year
| Year | Scope 3 (kg CO2e per tonne) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4.6536 | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 4.6857 | -26.9% |
| 2024 | 6.4106 | -69.9% |
| 2023 | 21.281 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 21.280 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 21.294 | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 21.317 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 21.354 | – |
Total kg CO2e for the seven greenhouse gases, from the official DESNZ files for each year. 2026 factor ID: 20_507_5311_15_1. Where a factor jumps sharply between two years, it is usually because DESNZ changed its method or data source, not because the activity itself changed.
Worked example
Take an office sending 12 tonnes of general waste to energy from waste a year. 12 tonnes × 4.6536 kg CO2e = 0.06 tonnes CO2e, reported as Scope 3, category 5 (waste generated in operations).
How to report it
Energy from waste plants burn general waste to make electricity. As with recycling, the factor only covers transport to the plant; the emissions from burning are counted by the plant operator.
Where the data comes from
You'll usually find it in your waste contractor's reports, in tonnes. Keep the source documents: anyone checking your Carbon Reduction Plan or SECR report may ask how each figure was worked out.
Read more about how the factors change each year in our guide to the 2026 conversion factors, or see how we apply them in our methodology.
Related emission factors
- Commercial waste to landfill: 520.58 kg CO2e per tonne
- Mixed paper and card recycling: 4.6536 kg CO2e per tonne
- Wastewater treatment: 0.17088 kg CO2e per cubic metre
- All UK emission factors