Including incineration in the EU ETS: Assessing potential impacts on landfilling

This report examines whether bringing waste incineration into the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) could trigger a shift back to landfill across Europe. It finds that, under current legal and economic conditions, this risk is low: in most Member States, landfill restrictions, taxes and contractual arrangements already limit any return to disposal.

The report argues that including incineration in the EU ETS can support climate goals and a move up the waste hierarchy, especially alongside stronger implementation of the Landfill Directive and measures to reduce residual waste.

Full report and executive summary available in English, and Polish.