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Waste-to-Energy in the EU: The Effects of Plant Ownership, Waste Mobility, and Decentralization on Environmental Outcomes and Welfare

Author

Listed:
  • Laura Levaggi

    (Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Bozen, 36100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Rosella Levaggi

    (Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, 25122 Brescia, Italy)

  • Carmen Marchiori

    (Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, 25122 Brescia, Italy)

  • Carmine Trecroci

    (Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, 25122 Brescia, Italy)

Abstract

Waste-to-energy (WtE) could prevent the production of up to 50 million tons of CO 2 emissions that would otherwise be generated by burning fossil fuels. Yet, support for a large deployment of WtE plants is not universal because there is a widespread concern that energy from waste discourages recycling practices. Moreover, incineration plants generate air pollution and chemical waste residuals and are expensive to build compared to modern landfills that have appropriate procedures for the prevention of leakage of harmful gasses. In the context of the EU, this paper aims to provide a picture of the actual role of WtE as a disposal option for municipal solid waste (MSW), enabling it to be utilized as a source of clean energy, and to address two important aspects of the debate surrounding the use of WtE; namely, (i) the relationship between WtE and recycling, and (ii) the effects of decentralization, waste mobility, and plant ownership. Finally, it reviews the role of the EU as a supranational regulator, which may allow the lower government levels (where consumer preferences are better represented) to take decisions, while taking spillovers into account.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Levaggi & Rosella Levaggi & Carmen Marchiori & Carmine Trecroci, 2020. "Waste-to-Energy in the EU: The Effects of Plant Ownership, Waste Mobility, and Decentralization on Environmental Outcomes and Welfare," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:14:p:5743-:d:385692
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Dzintra Atstaja & Natalija Cudecka-Purina & Viktor Koval & Jekaterina Kuzmina & Janis Butkevics & Hanna Hrinchenko, 2024. "Waste-to-Energy in the Circular Economy Transition and Development of Resource-Efficient Business Models," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-23, August.
    3. Yaqub, Z.T. & Oboirien, B.O. & Leion, H., 2024. "Process optimization of chemical looping combustion of solid waste/biomass using machine learning algorithm," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    4. Patel, Sanjay K.S. & Das, Devashish & Kim, Sun Chang & Cho, Byung-Kwan & Kalia, Vipin Chandra & Lee, Jung-Kul, 2021. "Integrating strategies for sustainable conversion of waste biomass into dark-fermentative hydrogen and value-added products," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    5. Rashid Maqbool & Yahya Rashid & Saleha Ashfaq, 2022. "Renewable energy project success: Internal versus external stakeholders' satisfaction and influences of power‐interest matrix," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(6), pages 1542-1561, December.
    6. Petri Penttinen & Jussi Vimpari & Seppo Junnila, 2021. "Optimal Seasonal Heat Storage in a District Heating System with Waste Incineration," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-15, June.
    7. Tahereh Malmir & Saeed Ranjbar & Ursula Eicker, 2020. "Improving Municipal Solid Waste Management Strategies of Montréal (Canada) Using Life Cycle Assessment and Optimization of Technology Options," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-15, October.
    8. Madurai Elavarasan, Rajvikram & Pugazhendhi, Rishi & Irfan, Muhammad & Mihet-Popa, Lucian & Khan, Irfan Ahmad & Campana, Pietro Elia, 2022. "State-of-the-art sustainable approaches for deeper decarbonization in Europe – An endowment to climate neutral vision," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    9. Piotr Kordel & Radosław Wolniak, 2021. "Technology Entrepreneurship and the Performance of Enterprises in the Conditions of Covid-19 Pandemic: The Fuzzy Set Analysis of Waste to Energy Enterprises in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-22, June.

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