Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Waste-to-energy in Europe- statistics & facts
Globally, the energy produced from waste has seen a remarkable upward trajectory over the past two decades, more than doubling since 2000. This energy recovery takes several forms, including thermal treatment through waste-to-energy incineration plants that generate electricity and heat, anaerobic digestion of organic waste to produce biogas, landfill gas capture systems that harness methane emissions, and gasification or pyrolysis processes that convert waste into syngas or bio-oils for energy production. Over the past decade, Europe has also seen significant growth in its capacity to generate renewable energy from municipal waste, achieving 4,921 megawatts in 2024. This marks a notable rise from 3,372 megawatts in 2010 and underscores the region’s ongoing development of sustainable waste management and renewable energy.
