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Abstract
The UK waste management sector is under increasing pressure to measure, report and manage its GHG emissions. In recent years, it has become common for large waste management companies to report their annual carbon footprint, and a sector-specific standard has been developed, the Entreprises pour l’Environnement Protocol. In this article, we have critically evaluated approaches taken within the waste management sector to measure, report and verify its carbon footprint. Although the Entreprises pour l’Environnement Protocol has been made freely available, its use has been limited. With no commonly agreed sector-specific standard, carbon footprinting has become highly subjective. This has resulted in high levels of inconsistency between companies and the reporting of inaccurate, incomplete and noncomparable carbon footprints. Consequently, calculated carbon footprint information is ineffective in guiding corporate GHG management. There is a need for a robust, transparent, commonly agreed waste management sector-specific standard that facilitates accurate measurement, reporting and verification of organizational GHG emissions.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.