New study confirms including waste incineration in EU Emissions Trading System can slash emissions and create thousands of jobs
A new study by CE Delft, commissioned by Zero Waste Europe and Reloop, confirms that including waste incineration in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) would deliver powerful climate and employment benefits.
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Waste incineration under the EU ETS – an assessment of climate benefits
A new study by CE Delft, commissioned by Zero Waste Europe and Reloop, confirming benefits of including waste incineration in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
Massive emissions cuts
Adding incineration to the EU ETS would slash CO₂ emissions by 4 to 7 million tonnes in 2030, rising to 18 to 32 million tonnes in 2040.
These reductions stem from a combination of pre- and post-collection sorting and recycling of waste, waste prevention, carbon capture and storage (CCS) measures, and emission reduction efforts in other sectors of the EU ETS.
These figures represent a minimum, as emission reductions outside the ‘’scope 1 emissions’’ of EU ETS – such as those linked to reduced imports of virgin plastics from countries like the United States and China – are not included.
Emission reduction if waste incineration is included
under the EU-ETS system
Thousands of new jobs
Transitioning from incineration to recycling would create 8,700 to 16,400 new jobs by 2030, and 11,600 to 21,700 by 2040, as recycling is far more labour-intensive than burning waste.
To maximise impact, the study recommends complementary policies such as mandatory recycled content in plastics, wider use of Pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) tariffs and stronger Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.
“Multiple lines of evidence from various countries reveal that waste destined for incineration contains over 30% valuable packaging materials. ETS for waste incineration will rescue these resources from being burned, and it is an essential step toward strengthening Europe’s resilience and reducing its carbon footprint.”
Anna Larsson
Director, Circular Economy Development
About AnnaAnna’s career has been dedicated to international projects that target sustainable resource management, with ‘Best practice adopted to local conditions’ being her successful motto. With a double Polish-Swedish nationality, academic credentials from Poland and Norway, as well as professional experience from various countries, Anna uses her unparalleled knowledge to encourage strong belief in the ambitious policy instruments that keep consumers and economic stakeholders motivated to adopt Circular Economy principles.
Related resources
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Joint letter in support for the inclusion of municipal waste incineration and landfilling under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)
Reloop and Zero Waste Europe, along with a coalition of 20 companies, trade associations and NGOs, are calling on the European Commission to include municipal waste incinerators in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
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The case for sorting recyclables prior to landfill and incineration
Report providing a clear and compelling case for mandatory mixed waste sorting in the EU.