Waste to Energy to Climate Protection

29Jan
2008
Dinner debate in Brussels

Speakers: Dr. Ella Stengler, CEWEP Managing Director and Mr. Kees Wielenga, FFact Management Consultants

In light of the second reading of the Waste Framework Directive in the European Parliament, CEWEP discussed with the EEF members the contribution the Waste-to-Energy industry can make to both sustainable energy and waste policy.

Waste-to-Energy is the process of generating energy by thermally treating household and similar waste, which is not suitable for recycling. Waste-to-Energy Plants turn this waste into heat and electricity which they deliver back to households and industry.

The generation of energy from waste, which to a large extent consists of biomass, substitutes energy production from fossil fuels, thus reducing CO2 emissions and contributing to climate protection and security of energy supply. The waste used in this process would otherwise be consigned to landfill, a waste of energy.

Dr. Ella Stengler and Mr. Kees Wielenga told us how Waste-to-Energy effectively contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions.
If an ambitious policy in the EU aiming at 60% recycling and efficient waste prevention measures are implemented, the remaining 40% of waste should be used to generate energy instead of being sent to landfill.