Waste-to-energy: A guide for investors

The waste-to-energy market is expected to surpass $70bn by 2030, according to a recent study by Global Market Insights, as governments pursue reductions in methane production agreed during COP26. But is this method of turning our commercial and residential refuse into energy the sustainable solution some claim it to be?

Waste-to-energy is a process which generates electricity and/or heat from the incineration of waste. It is considered to be a form of renewable energy and is an effective way of treating waste to avoid most of it going to landfill. It is not only relevant for municipal waste, either. Businesses have been paying greater attention to their carbon footprint in recent years, and harnessing waste-to-energy (WTE) methods as a way to reduce their impact on the environment. In the US, there are currently 75 facilities recovering energy from the combustion of municipal solid waste (MSW). These...