A moratorium on incineration

Join us for the Day of Action Against Incineration on 30 September 2025 – spread the word and join the campaign by sharing our visuals and message!

The challenge

As you read this, Europe has at least 60 million tonnes more waste incineration capacity than it needs – equivalent to the weight of 6,000 Eiffel Towers. Yet, new incinerators keep getting built, trapping us in a system that burns materials that could be reused, repaired, or recycled instead.

This isn’t just wasteful: it’s dangerous. Every new incinerator built today could be expected to operate well beyond 2050, polluting the atmosphere with even more greenhouse gases for decades to come.

‘’But I keep hearing that we must cut emissions!’’ – we can hear you thinking. And that’s true. Waste incineration (also known as waste-to-energy) facilities, however, produce more carbon-intensive energy than many conventional sources, and much of what they burn is plastic or other things made out of fossil fuels. They are not good for our environment. 

And the problems caused by incinerators don’t stop there.

The promise that incineration would eliminate landfills is false. Every year, up to 16 million tonnes of toxic ash and residue from European incinerators are still buried in the ground, often near communities with no say in the matter. Incineration doesn’t get rid of landfills: it’s just an additional false solution. While some countries convert incinerator bottom ash into aggregate, this creates new hazards.

Even if waste could be destroyed safely and without emissions, this would still be an unsustainable practice because of the loss of valuable resources.

Our health deserves better

Communities living near incinerators face serious health risks. Despite industry claims about “clean burning’’, these facilities release toxic pollutants like dioxins, heavy metals, and PFAS chemicals into the air, soil, and water. These ‘’forever chemicals’’ accumulate in our bodies and have been linked to cancer, immune system problems, and developmental disorders. Children, elderly people, and those already facing health challenges are most affected by this burden.

An incineration-free Europe

We envision a Europe where:

• Waste is seen not as something to burn, but as a resource to keep in use. 
• Items like a broken phone get repaired instead of being burned or buried; packaging gets reused, and food scraps become compost instead of the nutrient value being destroyed.
• Products that cannot be safely used, reused, and recycled aren’t produced or placed on the market.
• Healthy communities and clean air come first.
• The circular economy isn’t just a policy goal but a lived reality in every neighbourhood, allowing for everyone to benefit from longer lasting products and materials and more sustainable means of consumption.

The technologies and systems we need to make this a reality across Europe already exist. What’s missing is the political will to favour them over the incineration industry’s short-term profits.

The way forward

People across Europe demand change, from community groups to environmental organisations, public health advocates to climate activists. We’re calling for:

• An immediate moratorium on all new waste incinerators. We have more than enough burning capacity already.
• A planned transition away from incineration. As existing incinerators end their operational lives, they should be replaced with repair centres, reuse facilities, composting systems, sustainable recycling plants, and other proven solutions for a circular economy.
• Investment in solutions that work. The billions being spent on new incinerators should be used to prevent waste in the first place, keep materials in use longer, and create jobs in the circular economy.

Your choice matters – join us!

What kind of Europe do you want to live in?

The choice is simple: 

• We can continue burning our way out of the waste crisis, poisoning our communities and planet in the process; or 
• We can build a circular, sustainable future and work together to create systems that serve everyone.

Communities across Europe are already making this choice. Join us.

Our health, our climate, and our future depend on moving beyond incineration. Together, we know we deserve better than burning.

This manifesto represents the voice of European communities and organisations committed to a fair and resilient future with prosperity and wellbeing for all. Add your organisation’s voice to ours.

”Better than burning” support videos – playlist