The European Commission is considering the inclusion of Waste-to-Energy (WtE) in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). Such a move risks penalising a sector that is crucial for achieving net-zero goals, says Vanessa Fakra, an ESWET member and Director of Regulatory Affairs and Market Access at Kanadevia Inova.

In a recent article published on Open Access Government, Fakra says that “a shift back to landfilling” would “lead to an immediate surge in methane emissions, undoing years of progress toward climate goals.”

Landfills are a climate hazard, produce water and groundwater contamination, and contribute to air pollution, among other negative effects on people and the environment. The decomposition of organic waste is what primarily makes landfills a significant climate hazard. When organic materials break down, they produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas approximately 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period.

“The approach (of the EU) – continues Fakra – fails to recognise the circular benefits of WtE, such as hygienisation of waste, energy recovery, metal recovery, ash reuse in construction, and CCS integration. By penalising WtE, policymakers risk undermining Europe’s 2035 landfill reduction target.”

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