Page 23 - Waste-to-Energy in the Danube Strategy Region. Challenges and Prospects

While the EU previously supported the development of new waste incineration plants,

more recent waste policies have adopted a more holistic approach to waste management based
on the duel concepts of circular economy and waste hierarchy. Nevertheless, WtE continues to be

a legitimate element of waste management practice and regions with underdeveloped WtE

capacities have the option to develop these facilities as needed. This need is likely to be limited

by the new focus on waste prevention, improved recycling, sorting of biodegradable waste, and

improvements in the recyclability of plastics. There is therefore also a risk that newly built
incineration plants planned without taking these factors into account will be left underused or

abandoned. On the other hand, waste management practise in most DSR countries is

characterized by significant landfilling and lower levels of recycling. The shift away from landfilling
could present opportunities for both recycling and WtE. Indeed, those states with more developed

waste management systems indicate that the two can coexist. The risk for those countries is

whether existing WtE capacities will restrict efforts to move further up the waste hierarchy.

Another option for some states will be to negotiate exceptions or pay fines for missing recycling
and landfilling targets. However, such approach results in a situation where building WtE facilities

may not be attractive to private investors despite apparent need.

Project co-funded by the European Union
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