Work

Confronting the incineration economy: costs and benefits of adopting advanced sorting and carbon capture for residual waste flows in Norway

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: • Amending WtE with CCS reduces CO 2 -eq emissions by 73–174 % per ton waste. • Introducing advanced sorting technology increases material recovery by 15–34 %. • Energy output is reduced by 23–55 % from WtE depending on the scenario. • Cost increases for treating 1 ton waste increase by 20–98 %. • Current Norwegian policy is inconsistent with the waste hierarchy and the polluter-pays-principle. Greenhouse gas emissions from waste incineration has been characterized as hard to abate process-based emissions due to the consistent generation of residual waste, which contains significant levels of embedded fossil carbon. Policy enacted by the Norwegian government takes aim at reducing these emissions via implementing carbon capture and storage (CCS) or reducing the flow of residual waste to incineration by incentivizing advanced centralized waste sorting. The enacted policy tool used for achieving this is a tax directed at incineration plant fossil carbon emissions. The emission (CO2-equivalents), material, energy, and cost consequences of these amendments to existing waste management are modelled and assessed via LCA and LCC scenarios, considering various waste compositions and technology levels for the treatment of 1 ton residual waste. Model results show considerable environmental improvements in terms of emission mitigation via CCS and increased recycling (23–160% reduction), with a considerable trade-off with energy recovery (23–55% reduction) and costs (20–90% increase). The failure of national policy to incorporate the intricacies of the existing system in conjunction with moral considerations regarding cost burdens are discussed in the context of societal acceptance. Adoption of clearer and more active governing frameworks to avoid socializing the cost of the circular economy transition are highlighted, and the consistency of current policy with governing principles such as ‘ the polluter pays ’ is questioned.

Source: Resources Conservation and Recycling

DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108904

Author: Kim Rainer Mattson

Institutions: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, CICERO Center for International Climate Research

Language: English

Topic: Municipal Solid Waste Management

Subfield: Waste Management and Disposal

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Climate action, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,270