Waste Burned, Energy Produced: Is Waste-to-Energy a Climate Solution or a Transfer of Pollution to Poor Communities?

Abstract

Waste-to-energy technologies are increasingly promoted as solutions to two interconnected urban challenges: growing waste volumes and the demand for alternative energy sources. In Indonesia, however, the expansion of waste-to-energy facilities has generated debates about emissions, public health, environmental safety, and the location of facilities near residential communities. This article critically examines whether waste-to-energy development should be understood as a climate solution or as a mechanism that redistributes environmental risks toward socially vulnerable populations. The analysis focuses on waste combustion, air emissions, residual waste, health concerns, and the spatial distribution of environmental burdens. Particular attention is given to communities living near proposed or operating facilities, including cases where low-income neighborhoods may experience disproportionate exposure to pollution. Through an environmental-justice framework, the article distinguishes between the potential benefits of reducing landfill dependence and the risks associated with combustion-based waste management. It argues that the climate credentials of waste-to-energy cannot be evaluated solely through energy generation or waste-diversion indicators. Full assessment must include life-cycle emissions, waste composition, air-quality impacts, ash management, public health, and meaningful community participation. The article concludes that waste-to-energy can only contribute to a just transition if it is embedded within a broader waste hierarchy emphasizing prevention, reduction, reuse, recycling, and strict environmental safeguards.