Italy: generated municipal waste 2017, by region
Most of the Italian incineration plants are situated in the north. In 2017, there were 26 incineration plants in the north of Italy, seven in the center and six in the south. Incineration is the process of transforming waste into energy through combustion. In the past this process was harmful for the environment. Nowadays, new technologies made it possible to separate gases from toxic pollutant agents. Therefore, sometimes incineration is deployed just as process for disposing of waste, regardless of the outcome in terms of energy.
GHG emissions from incineration
As a matter of fact, the level of annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from incineration decreased in Italy between 2005 and 2016 against a steady amount of waste incinerated. Lombardy was the Italian region with the highest volume of waste subjected to incineration.
Waste-to-energy
The gross energy production from biomass and waste increased from 10,832 gigawatt hours in 2011 to 19,282 gigawatt hours in 2017. Not only municipal waste, but also special waste was used as energy fuel, especially in the north of Italy.
GHG emissions from incineration
As a matter of fact, the level of annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from incineration decreased in Italy between 2005 and 2016 against a steady amount of waste incinerated. Lombardy was the Italian region with the highest volume of waste subjected to incineration.
Waste-to-energy
The gross energy production from biomass and waste increased from 10,832 gigawatt hours in 2011 to 19,282 gigawatt hours in 2017. Not only municipal waste, but also special waste was used as energy fuel, especially in the north of Italy.
