Zero Waste Europe’s latest policy brief proposes introducing an EU-wide cap-and-trade system for residual waste, i.e. the waste that ends up in landfills or incinerators. Rather than focusing solely on “not landfilling,” this approach would set clear limits on residual waste generation, rewarding countries and operators that reduce it and applying levies where it exceeds agreed benchmarks.
By capping residual waste, the proposal would drive waste prevention, reuse, and recycling, while simultaneously cutting greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) linked to landfilling and incineration. A fair, transparent system of “passive trading” between Member States would ensure shared responsibility and accelerate the EU’s transition to a truly circular, climate-neutral economy.
Available in English.
Executive Summary in English and Polish.
156 civil society organisations have issued a joint letter to President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Commissioners, and national ministers calling for an immediate moratorium on approving and building new waste incineration facilities across the European Union (EU).
Led by the Zero Waste Europe network, this coalition is calling for:
– An EU-wide moratorium on new waste incinerators (R1 and D10);
– Phase-down strategies for existing incineration capacity;
– Increased investment in circular economy infrastructure, such as reuse systems, composting, and recycling technologies.
The letter was sent as part of today’s wider Day of Action Against Incineration of the ‘’Better than Burning’’ campaign, which includes a Manifesto and social media testimonials on the harmful impact of waste incineration in their countries.
Available in English and Hungarian.
The latest biomonitoring report by ToxicoWatch shows that air filters in schools in Ivry-Sur-Seine (Paris) contained PFAS, dioxins, and other dangerous chemicals linked to areas in close vicinity of waste incinerators.
The biomonitoring research in Ivry-Sur-Seine found dioxins in school filters and dust; dixion-like PCBs which were legally banned decades ago; and PAHs, a chemical also found in cigarette smoke. It also found levels of PFAs in air filter dust exponentially above the EU safety limits.
The report underlines the findings of previous biomonitoring reports carried out in communities near waste incinerators across Europe (see The True Toxic Toll page), showing that waste incineration emissions contaminate nearby air, water, and vegetation – putting human health and the environment at risk.
Available in English and French.
Zero Waste Europe and 20+ organisations have signed a joint letter urging the European Commission to include waste incinerators and landfills in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) by 2028. These major sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must no longer be exempt from carbon pricing if the EU is serious about climate and circular economy goals.
Available in English.
A new study by CE Delft, commissioned by Zero Waste Europe and Reloop, confirms that including waste incineration in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) would deliver powerful climate and employment benefits.
The main findings of the study include:
1. Massive emissions cuts. Adding incineration to the EU ETS would slash CO₂ emissions by 4 to 7 million tonnes in 2030, rising to 18 to 32 million tonnes in 2040.
2. Thousands of new jobs. Transitioning from incineration to recycling would create 8,700 to 16,400 new jobs by 2030, and 11,600 to 21,700 by 2040, as recycling is far more labour-intensive than burning waste.
Available in English.
Executive Summary available in Polish.
This biomonitoring report by ToxicoWatch and supported by Zero Waste Europe reveals dangerously high levels of dioxins, PFAS, and heavy metals around the Zubieta Waste-to-Energy incinerator in Spain. Samples from backyard eggs, moss, soil, and water show widespread contamination, with one egg recording the highest dioxin levels in Europe in over a decade. The findings raise serious concerns about ongoing emissions and call for urgent action to protect environmental and public health.
Available in English.
This biomonitoring report by ToxicoWatch, supported by Zero Waste Europe and Collectif 3R, reveals high levels of dioxins, PFAS, and heavy metals in vegetation, moss, and soil around the Ivry-sur-Seine incinerator in Paris. Samples taken from schools and public areas show widespread contamination, with some dioxin levels exceeding EU safety limits. These findings align with earlier public health alerts and underline the urgent need for tighter emission controls and environmental monitoring across urban incineration zones.
Available in English and Croatian.
This biomonitoring report by ToxicoWatch’s, supported by Zero Waste Europe, uncovers worrying levels of dioxins, PFAS, and heavy metals near the Harlingen Waste-to-Energy incinerator. Backyard chicken eggs, soil, moss, and water samples show significant contamination—PFAS levels in ditch water were 138 times above Dutch drinking water limits, and dioxins in eggs exceeded EU thresholds. These findings, spanning over a decade of research, highlight the urgent need to investigate pollution sources and resume continuous emissions monitoring at the REC facility.
Available in English.
The European Union stands at a critical juncture. With six planetary boundaries already breached and a rapidly shifting global economy, the Circular Economy Act (CEA) should serve as a guiding compass to drive how we consume and produce differently, how we empower communities, and build resilient economies through job creation in circular sectors. It must promote value preservation and ensure the strategic use of our resources, while ensuring a safe and toxic-free transition for workers, SMEs, and citizens.
Ahead of the European Commission’s publication of the Clean Industrial Deal (CID), Zero Waste Europe presents its position paper laying out the vision for the CEA: more than a technical fix to the waste crisis, it should serve as a guiding compass within a broader industrial strategy.
Available in English.
Executive summary available in English, Portuguese, Croatian, German, and Greek.
This report presents the findings of the second phase of a multi-year biomonitoring study (2023–2025) conducted in 8-11 May, 2024.
The research focuses on the deposition of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including dioxins (PCDD/F/dl-PCB), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), PFAS, and heavy metals (HM), in the vicinity of the Cementáreň Turňa nad Bodvou cement plant in the Košice Region of Slovakia.
By assessing pollution levels, this study provides critical data to address environmental and public health impacts in the area.
Available in English.
This report developed by Equnimator urges for the immediate and comprehensive inclusion of municipal waste incineration in the EU’s emission trading system (ETS). It emphasises the critical need to include both electricity and heat incineration, along with biogenic CO2, in the ETS. This move is seen as essential for the EU to meet its climate goals and ensure that all sectors contribute fairly to emission reductions.
The report follows the European Parliament’s 2022 ETS reforms, which opened the possibility of including municipal waste incineration within its scope. Despite this, as of January 2024, these facilities are only required to monitor, report, and verify their emissions without the need to surrender allowances. Zero Waste Europe calls for the European Commission to study the feasibility of full inclusion by July 2026, with a potential implementation by 2028.
Available in English.
The “True Toxic Toll” campaign is back with the most recent findings on the harmful impact of incinerator emissions on human health and the environment.
This report showcases the results of a multi-year biomonitoring research by ToxicoWatch Foundation on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the surrounding environment of a waste incinerator in Zubieta (Spanish Basque Country region).
The research reveals high levels of dioxins and PFAS in backyard chicken eggs, mosses, and pine needles near the incinerator, indicating contamination. The report highlights the need for further investigation into the sources of these pollutants and their impact on public health.
Available in English.
This open letter addresses the misclassification of waste incineration’s heat output as ‘waste heat’ within the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) framework in the EU. It highlights the negative environmental impacts of waste incineration, including greenhouse gas emissions and disincentivizing waste prevention and recycling efforts. We advocate for the exclusion of waste incineration from ‘waste heat’ targets, emphasising the importance of prioritising genuine renewable energy sources like heat pumps and solar thermal for district heating. It urges policymakers to prioritise waste prevention, recycling targets, and investment in innovative clean energy technologies to achieve a truly sustainable energy future.
The “True Toxic Toll” campaign is back with the most recent findings on the harmful impact of incinerator emissions on human health and the environment.
The latest research conducted by ToxicoWatch on behalf of Zero Waste Europe analysed the persistent organic pollutants in the environment surrounding the REC Waste Incinerator in Harlingen, the Netherlands. This time, we analysed backyard chicken eggs; fruit and vegetables such as apples, cauliflower, and kale; and vegetation from the surrounding villages and settlements.
Among other findings, the results showed that:
– High levels of dioxins were found in the eggs of backyard chickens sampled within a 3 km radius of the waste incinerator.
– The PFOS level in eggs sampled from Wijnaldum, located 2 km from the incinerator, largely exceeds the limit imposed by EU regulations.
– There are high levels of aluminium in eggshells sampled from Wijnaldum.
These findings raise concerns about the region’s environmental health and the health of those living near the incinerator.
Available in English and Dutch.
The “True Toxic Toll” campaign is back with the most recent findings on the harmful impact of incinerator emissions on human health and the environment.
The latest research conducted by ToxicoWatch on behalf of Zero Waste Europe analysed the persistent organic pollutants in the environment surrounding a cement kiln in Turňa nad Bodvou, Slovakia. This time, we analysed fruit such as apples, figs, and grapes; backyard chicken eggs; vegetation; and dust, water, and sediments from the surrounding villages.
The results showed that:
– PFAs were detected in grapes and fig leaves; and PAH levels were found in apples and grapes;
– There were concentrations of dioxins, PAH, and PFAS in eggs, pine needles, and mosses;
– Eggs from backyard chickens in three locations exceeded the EU limit for dioxins.
– Elevated levels of PAH were found in roof dust.
These findings raise concerns about the region’s environmental health and the health of those living near the incinerator.
Available in English and Slovak.
This study explores mixed waste sorting as a cost-effective strategy for substantial reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from waste incineration, challenging the viability of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Comparing Leftover Mixed Waste Sorting (LMWS) and CCS, the study suggests LMWS as a swift, economical approach for municipalities and incineration operators to achieve significant GHG reductions, offering flexibility and avoiding excessive costs linked to CCS. The ‘low-regret’ nature of LMWS is highlighted, aiding Member States in meeting recycling and climate targets while reducing incineration capacity.
Available in English.
The introduction of the mandatory implementation of CCS in municipal waste incinerators warrants careful consideration, especially given the evolving landscape of waste management practices. This position paper argues against making CCS mandatory in such facilities, emphasising that municipal waste is not unavoidable.
Available in English.
