As well as increasing the role of renewables in our energy mix and deploying other low-carbon energy technologies, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is expected to play a crucial role in achieving major climate goals.

When combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS), WtE can lead to the permanent net removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere, resulting in what is termed “negative CO₂ emissions”. This is because the process captures and permanently stores the biogenic carbon held within residual solid wastes.

Alternatively, the captured CO₂ can be used as a valuable resource in other industries, such as food and drink production or as a feedstock for new industrial products like synthetic fuels. This is known as carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS).

In this way, CCUS on WtE can significantly reduce the amount of harmful CO₂ emissions from waste incineration that are currently vented to the atmosphere.