Waste Incineration: Its Role in Circular Economy

Waste Incineration: Its Role in Circular Economy

From Circularity.fm by Patrick Hypscher

May 5, 2026 · 34 min · Episode 97

About this episode

The episode discusses the role of waste incineration in the circular economy and its impact on the energy system.

What role does waste incineration play in the circular economy and in the transition away from fossil fuels? Sebastian Siewers, Head of Energy at EEW, talks about the contribution of waste-to-energy plants to the circular economy, and the energy system. What you'll hear in this episode: • The business model behind waste to energy: where the revenue comes from, what drives costs, and why CO2 is becoming a major factor. • What grid flexibility means, why it has become more important than total energy supply, and how negative pricing hours in Germany have more than doubled since 2023. • Why heat and steam are local infrastructure products and how German municipalities are starting to plan around them. This is the second episode in "Incineration in the Circular Economy," a series sponsored by NEEW Ventures.

People in this episode

Host: Patrick Hypscher

Guest: Sebastian Siewers

Topics covered

  • waste incineration
  • circular economy
  • waste-to-energy
  • energy system
  • grid flexibility
  • local infrastructure

Keywords

  • waste incineration
  • circular economy
  • waste-to-energy
  • grid flexibility
  • CO2
  • energy supply
  • German municipalities

Sponsors

NEEW Ventures

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: EEW

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