The EU policy “an energy policy for Europe” (sec(2007)12) assumes that a reduction of CO2 emissions in 2020 by 20% is necessary. This would require a reduction of CO2 emissions of more than 800 million tons of CO2. The CO2 reduction that can be obtained by promoting Waste-to-Energy could be an important part of this reduction and should be taken into account. Moreover, waste is a source of energy that is available within the EU and therefore reduces its dependency on imported fuels.

To obtain the CO2 reduction it is important that the EU grants the recovery status to Waste-to-Energy plants with a high energy efficiency according to the formula proposed by the Commission in Annex II of the revision of the Waste Framework Directive. The status as a recovery installation would facilitate the building of new Waste-to-Energy plants with highly efficient energy production. The benefits in terms of CO2 reduction have been calculated within two scenarios. Both scenarios assume an ambitious policy for recycling resulting in an increase of recycling of municipal waste from 36% in 2004 to 60% in 2020.