Waste-to-energy (WTE) covers a wide range of technologies, but they have one thing in common – the application of “high temperatures” to reduce waste volume while producing energy or fuel in the process.  WTE technologies include:   

• Burning mixed solid waste in a single combustion system to produce steam and electricity (mass-burn incineration with energy recovery).

• Heating plastic waste in a pyrolysis or gasification reactor to create liquids and gases that are later burned as fuel (sometimes referred to as “advanced recycling” or “chemical recycling” by its proponents).

• Using mechanical separation methods to shred incoming mixed waste streams; separate out non-combustible material; and convert plastic and other materials into fuel pellets or bales to be burned in industrial facilities like cement plants (co-incineration).