GLOBAL Shift away from EfW

Wales

Policy

  • The 2010 Towards Zero Waste Strategy set out that there will be “far less need for residual waste treatment facilities such as energy from waste plants with the number and/ or capacity required progressively reducing from 2025 to 2050.”
  • "Beyond Recycling - A strategy to make the circular economy in Wales a reality" outlines Wales' zero waste goals, defining zero waste as "where all waste that is produced is re-used or recycled as a resource, without the need for any landfill or energy recovery".
  • A moratorium on new large scale energy from waste plants came into effect immediately following the written statement 'Taking action to make the circular economy a reality' 24 March 2021.

REASON

The moratorium recognised the views from citizens and stakeholders during the consultation on Beyond Recycling and the advice from the UK Committee on Climate Change on the pathway needed for Wales to decarbonise. Evidence from Wales' recycling journey as a nation, as well as the accompanying reduction in waste, means that Wales has now reached the point where they will not need any new large scale energy from waste infrastructure to deal with the residual waste generated in Wales.

ACTION

The moratorium on new large scale energy from waste plants covers those of 10MW or greater. Any new small scale facilities must also supply heat, and where feasible, be carbon capture and storage enabled or ready. This will therefore mean a small scale plant would not be allowable if waste is to be imported from outside of the proposed region (unless in close proximity to a region), in order to also avoid locking in transport emissions and associated pollution.

Denmark

Policy Shift

Denmark, once heavily reliant on incineration, plans to reduce its waste incineration capacity by 30% between 2020 and 2030.

REASON

To align with ambitious carbon-cutting goals and expand recycling efforts

ACTION

Closure of seven incinerators and a halt to importing waste for incineration.  

Spain (Madrid)

Policy

Madrid’s waste strategy, published in 2018, planned to phase out incineration by 2025

GOAL

To reduce landfill use and increase recycling rates.

United Kingdom

POLICY

The UK has paused permits for new incineration plants and intends to include the sector in its emissions trading scheme.

REASON

To meet net-zero emissions targets by 2050 and address rising greenhouse gas emissions from existing plants.

Italy (MILAN)

ACTION

In 2010, Milan rejected plans for a second incinerator, opting instead for an organic waste collection service.

OUTCOME

By 2024, the city recovered 87% of kitchen waste, demonstrating effective waste segregation.

SCOTLAND

POLICY

Scotland has implemented a moratorium on new waste incinerators since 2022. This policy, announced by Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater, aims to prevent the approval of new incineration facilities, with very limited exceptions.

REASON

The moratorium was introduced following an independent review led by Dr. Colin Church, which highlighted concerns about potential overcapacity in waste incineration and its misalignment with Scotland’s circular economy and climate objectives.  

USA (Minnesota)

POLICY

Minnesota reclassified waste-to-energy as a non-renewable energy source in 2023. Consequently, Hennepin County is mandated to develop a plan to close the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) between 2028 and 2040. Environmental justice advocates are pushing for an earlier closure due to pollution concerns. 

USA (Colorado)

POLICY

In 2024, Colorado passed Senate Bill 24-150, which prohibits the construction and operation of municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerators and plastics-to-fuel facilities statewide.

REASON

This legislation was driven by concerns over toxic emissions like dioxins and mercury, particularly in low-income and BIPOC communities.

USA (Maryland)

ACTION

Maryland is moving to eliminate waste-to-energy incinerators from its Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which currently classifies them as Tier 1 renewable energy sources. Legislation introduced in 2024 aims to remove financial incentives for these facilities.

REASON

To align with public health and environmental justice priorities.

USA (California)

POLICY

Some municipalities in California have enacted local bans or moratoriums on waste incineration.

REASON

Concerns over air quality and health impacts.

AUSTRALIA (ACT)

POLICY

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) implemented a ban on thermal Waste-to-Energy technologies under its Waste-to-Energy Policy 2020-2025.

REASON

Strong community opposition, risk of undermining recycling and resource recovery and greenhouse gas emissions associated with Waste-to-Energy technologies.

Australia (NSW)

POLICY

Under current regulations, Energy-from-Waste production is prohibited (with limited exceptions) except in four designated regional areas.

REASON

Precautionary principle for public health to minimise potential harm from Energy-from-Waste (EfW), risk of undermining recycling efforts and a transition to a circular economy, and risk of stranded assets if recycling rates improve.

REFERENCES

  • ACT Government 2020, Waste-to-Energy Policy 2020–2025, ACT Government, Canberra. Available at: https://hdp-au-prod-app-act-yoursay-files.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/3815/8509/9072/TCCS_ACT_Waste_to_Energy_Policy.pdf
  • California Environmental Protection Agency 2022, Local bans on waste incineration, California EPA, Sacramento. Available at: https://earthjustice.org/feature/california-municipal-waste-incinerators
  • Colorado General Assembly 2024, Senate Bill 24-150: Prohibit Municipal Solid Waste Incineration and Plastics-to-Fuel Facilities, Colorado General Assembly, Denver. Available at: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb24-150
  • Comune di Milano 2024, Relazione Annuale 2024 del Garante del Verde, del Suolo e degli Alberi, Comune di Milano, Milan. Available at: https://www.comune.milano.it/documents/20126/469052131/Report%2BAnnuale%2B2024_Garante%2Bdel%2BVerde%2Bdel%2BSuolo%2Be%2Bdegli%2BAlberi.pdf
  • Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities 2020, Climate Programme 2020: Denmark’s Long-Term Strategy under the Paris Agreement, Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, Copenhagen. Available at: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/ClimateProgramme2020-Denmarks-LTS-under-the%20ParisAgreement_December2020_.pdf
  • Madrid City Council 2018, Estrategia de Prevención y Gestión de Residuos Municipales de la Ciudad de Madrid 2018–2025, Ayuntamiento de Madrid, Madrid. Available at: https://transparencia.madrid.es/portales/transparencia/es/Organizacion/Planes-y-memorias/Planes/Estrategia-de-prevencion-y-gestion-de-residuos-municipales-de-la-ciudad-de-Madrid-2030/?vgnextchannel=d869508929a56510VgnVCM1000008a4a900aRCRD&vgnextoid=043aff73b586c810VgnVCM2000001f4a900aRCRD
  • Maryland General Assembly 2025, House Bill 0220: Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Eligible Sources – Alterations, Maryland General Assembly, Annapolis. Available at: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0220?ys=2025RS
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 2023, Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) Closure Plan, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, St. Paul. Available at: https://www.wastedive.com/news/hennepin-county-herc-closure-plan-vote-disposal-capacity/697730/
  • NSW Environment Protection Authority 2021, Energy from Waste Infrastructure Plan, NSW Government, Sydney. Available at: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/Publications/waste/Energy-from-Waste-Infrastructure-Plan
  • Scottish Government 2022, Stop, Sort, Burn, Bury: Independent Review of the Role of Incineration in the Waste Hierarchy in Scotland, Scottish Government, Edinburgh. Available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/stop-sort-burn-bury-independent-review-role-incineration-waste-hierarchy-scotland/
  • UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 2024, Proposals to Expand the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to Include Energy from Waste and Waste Incineration, UK Government, London. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/proposals-to-expand-the-uk-emissions-trading-scheme
  • https://www.gov.wales/written-statement-taking-action-make-circular-economy-reality
  • https://www.gov.wales/wales-takes-action-circular-economy-funding-upcoming-reforms-plastic-and-moratorium-large-scale
  • https://www.gov.wales/beyond-recycling
  • https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2019-05/towards-zero-waste-our-waste-strategy.pdf

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