Waste-to-Energy & the City: Generating value for Communities
An ESWET Conference co-hosted by the EU Committee of the Regions
On 16 May 2023 at 14:00-17:30, ESWET held a hybrid conference, co-hosted by the European Committee of the Regions, gathering high-level speakers to discuss the role of Waste-to-Energy in tackling local challenges, helping achieve EU energy & sustainability goals, and showcase successful examples that already benefit EU citizens.
Confirmed speakers included:
- Eero Ailio, Adviser to the Director on Global Covenant of Mayors and Energy Climate Initiative, DG Energy, European Commission
- Kata Tüttő, Deputy Mayor of Budapest, VP of CoR ENVE Commission, CoRRapporteur on the role of WtE in the circular economy
- Andries Gryffroy, Member of the Flemish Parliament, VP of the Belgian Senate, Member of the Council of Europe, and VP of CoR ENVE Commission
- Dr Thanos Bourtsalas, Earth Engineering Center Acting Director, Columbia University
- Ana Šerdoner, Senior Manager Industry & Energy Systems, BELLONA
Download the supporting material:
Watch the recording of the event
Securing energy and materials in Europe is a strategic objective for the success of the green and sustainable transition.
Waste-to-Energy helps public authorities at regional level in Europe face a double challenge: achieve a circular waste management system while securing reliable, local, affordable, and partly renewable energy. WtE plants treat non-recyclable waste and use it as a resource to supply heat to 17 million citizens and electricity to 20 million citizens in Europe. About 10% of heat provided to European district heating and cooling networks comes from WtE. More applications involve carbon capture, utilisation and storage, hydrogen & fuel supply, and recovery of resources. All are required to address energy & material insecurity, increasing decarbonisation efforts, and soaring energy prices.
