Technical Note SB44: Thermal treatment of waste

The thermal treatment of waste in a waste-to-energy (WtE) plant is undertaken around the world in communities where waste would otherwise be disposed of to landfills.  Some treatment facilities are located in urban areas without concern from neighbours because they are properly designed and operated so that they meet required environmental standards.

WtE plants are like a high performing recycling facility at the same time as generating energy from waste that would otherwise be heading for the landfill.  

The municipal and commercial residual waste that is not recycled and that would normally end up in a landfill, is processed through the WtE plant, where energy is extracted from the materials able to be thermally treated.