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Sustainable investment in waste management

February 2019 The Commission’s proposal for a regulation establishing a framework to facilitate sustainable investment (also known as “taxonomy”), lists activities like “avoiding incineration and disposal of waste” as sustainable (Art. 9.1.i), while activities that “[lead] to a significant increase in the generation, incineration or disposal of waste” (Art. 12.d) are considered as harming environmental objectives.

 
For waste that contains substances of concern and therefore cannot be recycled in an environmentally sound way, incineration is the only sustainable option. It destroys these substances and prevents pollutants being spread into the environment.
 
If there is no outlet for residual waste, the materials cycle runs the risk of contamination with pollutants ending up in products, on uncontrolled landfills or open fires (appearing more frequently since China and other Asian countries restricted their policy on waste import); causing immeasurable damage to human health and the environment.
 
 
For more information: 
 
Ella Stengler, Managing Director, Confederation of European Waste to Energy Plants
CEWEP is the umbrella association of the owners and operators of European Waste-to-Energy Plants.
www.cewep.eu
Hans Korteweg, Managing Director, COGEN Europe, the European Association for the Promotion of Cogeneration, is the cross-sectoral voice of the cogeneration industry.
www.cogeneurope.eu
Paul Voss, Managing Director, Euroheat & Power
Euroheat & Power represents the District Heating sector in Europe.
www.euroheat.org
Patrick Clerens, Secretary General, The European Suppliers of Waste-to- Energy Technology. ESWET is the European Association representing manufacturers in the field of Waste- to-Energy technology.
www.eswet.eu
Vanya Veras, Secretary General, Municipal Waste Europe
Municipal Waste Europe is the European umbrella association representing public responsibility for waste.
www.municipalwasteeurope.eu