WtE plants represent a unique case of hard-to-abate sector; unlike other emitters, they cannot switch fuels to decarbonise, as they are legally mandated to treat non-recyclable waste. The nature of the feedstock, however, also creates opportunities. In fact, approximately 50-60% of WtE CO₂ emissions are biogenic in origin and coupling WtE with CCS can enable carbon removals, making these facilities net-negative emitters.

The IPCC estimates CCUS-equipped WtE plants could remove 60–70 million tonnes of CO₂ annually in Europe alone. Operational projects, like AVR and Twence in the Netherlands have demonstrated technical feasibility, while tens of further projects are in development. Key challenges remain: high capital and operational costs, underdeveloped CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure, and missing demand-side incentives for utilisation. To enable CCUS development, the evolving EU regulatory framework will need to provide the policy certainty needed to unlock investment, with instruments such as Carbon Contracts for Difference and carbon removal credits emerging as essential financial instruments to bridge the viability gap.

In its report, “Coupling Waste-to-Energy with Carbon Capture: Technological Milestones, Policy Perspectives, and Reflections on CCS”, ESWET analyses the technological milestones, policy perspectives, and economic considerations for coupling WtE plants with CCS showing that a tailored regulatory and financial framework is essential to unlock deployment at the scale required to meet Europe's climate targets.