Energetic recovery of waste in Czechia: current trends and challenges

New version with modified logos of research funders. The EU's ambitious aims for sustainable waste management are in line with the principles of the circular economy: minimising waste production and landfilling, maximising reuse, material recycling and composting, and finally incineration (with a focus on energy recovery) for non-recyclable waste. According to Eurostat, 511 kg of municipal waste per capita was generated in average, of which 48% was recycled (through material recycling and composting), 22% was landfilled, 25% was incinerated, and 5% was disposed of in other ways in 2023. The energetic recovery of waste incineration (waste-to-energy, WtE) seems to be a progressive method of waste treatment and has become part of an strategic approach to integrated waste and energy management. However, in countries in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Czechia, high proportion of waste is still being landfilled. This contribution aims to analyse the current situation and trends of waste management based on available statistical and spatial data in Czechia, focusing on WtE. The generation of communal waste in Czechia shows an increasing material demand. While it was 302 kg per capita in 1995, it increased by nearly 80% to 537 kg per capita in 2023, slightly exceeding the European average. In light of the EU's climate and waste obligations, Czechia strives to support various infrastructure projects. The results show that 14% of waste is currently WtE used, 42% landfilled and 43% recycled. The capacities of the four main incinerator plants have increased in recent years and additional WtE facilities are under construction/planned to fulfill at least 25% rate of targeted WtE. However, NGOs and local communities raise environmental and health concerns and possible undermining broader sustainable waste management goals. A promising alternative involves producing solid recovered fuels from non-recyclable waste. This contribution provides comprehensive insight into waste transition challenges confronting Central and Eastern European countries.