Reports, Case Studies & Assessments The High Cost of Waste Incineration Published 2021 Share SHARE Facebook share Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL Email Download Download The-High-Cost-of-Waste-Incineration-March-30.pdf en Added on: 28 November, 2025 Breadcrumb Home Resource Library The High Cost of Waste Incineration Waste incineration is undeniably costly and capital intensive. It is estimated to cost USD 190 million – USD 1.2 billion to build an incinerator with a capacity of processing 1 million tonnes of waste per year. Both capital expenditure and operational expenditure are among the highest for waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration compared to other waste management options such as composting, anaerobic digestion, and landfills. Related partners Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA)