Pollutant emissions from waste incineration (Indicator)

Key message: Air pollutant emissions from incineration facilities showed mixed trends over the last decade, with a more stable trend in recent years.

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Notes: The original/official reported data have been cleaned and outliers removed. The graph also contains the trend in the number of facilities reporting emissions data in this sector (right vertical axis). The indexed graph for dioxins/furans has sharp fluctuations caused by the small quantities reported by Member States. This pollutant is emitted in such small quantities that small changes in absolute terms may lead to sharp changes in the indexed graph.Activity covered: 5b in Annex I of the European Pollutant Releases and Transfers Register (E-PRTR) Regulation (Installations for the incineration of non-hazardous waste in the scope of the Industrial Emissions Directive); with a capacity of three tonnes per hour). Adapted from data reported to the European Industrial Emissions Portal.

Waste is a significant source of pollution, especially when mismanaged. Waste prevention and sound waste management are long-standing objectives of EU policy.

Like the zero-pollution hierarchy, the EU waste hierarchy focuses on prevention — reducing waste generation so that pollution from waste management is avoided altogether. The least preferable waste treatment options in the waste hierarchy are the ones causing the most pollution; for example, disposing of waste in landfills.

Incineration is also a less preferable option to waste management, despite the associated generation of electricity and heat. Waste incineration increased steadily between 2010 and 2021 with a small decrease in 2022. Other methods of waste treatment such as recycling and composting have had a more pronounced increase over the same period. The quantity of municipal waste incinerated in the EU grew by 11% over the same 2022-2010 period (from 53 to 56 million tonnes). The trend is more marked if we consider the period since data are available: municipal waste incineration grew 96% between 1995 and 2022 (from 30 to 59 million tonnes in 2022 (Eurostat, 2024)).

Changes in the emission to air of different pollutants (see Figure) by EU incineration facilities varied between 2010 and 2022, showing either increasing or decreasing trends. However, a more stable path has emerged since 2017. This may be attributed to these plants beginning to adapt to the best available techniques (BAT) described in their specific sectoral BAT reference documents (BREF). In addition, BAT provisions entered into force for waste incineration plants from late 2023. Therefore, emissions figures from incineration plants are expected to decline after the full implementation of their BAT conclusions (the legally-binding section of the BREF). The revised Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) adopted in 2024 will help reduce emissions further (EU, 2024).

Please consult the relevant indicators and signals below for a more comprehensive overview on the topic.

References and footnotes

Eurostat, 2024, ‘Municipal waste statistics – Municipal waste treatment’ (Municipal waste statistics - Statistics Explained) accessed 11 September 2024.
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EU, 2024, Regulation (EU) 2024/1244 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 April 2024 on reporting of environmental data from industrial installations, establishing an Industrial Emissions Portal and repealing Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 (OJ L, 2024/1244, 2.5.2024).
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EU, 1999, Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste (OJ L 182 16.7.1999, p. 1-19).
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Pollutant emissions from waste incineration (Indicator)

Zero Pollution Action Plan 2030 target or policy objectives

Other relevant indicators and signals

References and footnotes