ABSTRACT
The second chapter analyzes the legislation which is crucial to develop sustainable waste to energy projects and plants worldwide. First it describes the contribution of Waste To Energy in Circular Economy and in Energy Policy (especially as a renewable energy source/RES). Waste-to-Energy provides synergies between the circular economy and energy union goals helping to reduce dependence on landfills and its Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) while replacing fossil fuels used by conventional power plants. Today, Waste-to-Energy is one of the most stringently regulated and controlled industrial activity and achieves very low emissions comparing with other industrial sources. It is together with recycling complimentary to treat waste that could not be avoided and to divert waste from landfills. The Emission Levels in the stack of WTE Plants (like the example of the famous Brescia WTE Plant in North Italy) is analyzed. Waste to Energy is an Integral Part of Sustainable Waste Management. WTE is classified as a renewable fuel, depending on the percentage of the biodegradable fraction of the incoming waste (approximately around 50%).
