What is waste-to-energy technology? Premium

Discover waste-to-energy technology, transforming non-recyclable waste into fuel while balancing environmental benefits and drawbacks.

A: Waste-to-energy (WtE) is a technology to convert non-recyclable waste materials into usable fuel, typically heat or electricity. A common method is incineration in which trash is burned at a high temperature to boil the water off, creating steam that turns a turbine to generate power. Other methods include gasification, which uses a large quantity of heat with little oxygen to turn waste into gas, and anaerobic digestion, where bacteria break down organic waste to produce biogas.

The impact of WtE on the environment involves both benefits and drawbacks and is a subject of ongoing debate.

Waste reduction facilities can reduce the volume of waste by around 90%, significantly extending the life of existing landfills and reducing the need for new ones. By diverting organic waste from landfills, WtE can also prevent the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere.

On the flip side, burning waste releases carbon dioxide and — especially in poorly controlled environments — pollutants like dioxins, furans, and heavy metals. Some contemporary facilities use advanced scrubbing and filtration systems to trap these toxins. Critics have also argued that WtE may discourage more sustainable practices like recycling and composting by creating a constant demand for trash.

India currently has at least 21 WtE plants in operation and 133 biogas facilities. The plants come under the purview of the Solid Waste Management Rules 2026, which mandate waste segregation and encourage refuse-derived fuel (RDF) in order to reduce the burden on landfills.