In recent years climate concerns and problems relating to the greenhouse effect have come high on the political agenda in Denmark and abroad.

When we emit CO2 to the atmosphere we enhance the greenhouse effect, thus increasing global warming. Therefore, we should utilise energy as efficiently as possible and use heating sources with the lowest CO2 impact, for example waste-based district heating.

District heating generated through incineration of waste causes much lower CO2 emissions than most other heating forms.

The biodegradable part of waste incinerated at Vestforbrænding is CO2 neutral. This is due to the fact that biological matter in the growth phase has taken up just as much CO2 from the atmosphere as is liberated during incineration. Around 80 % of waste input is biodegradable. Therefore, waste incineration does not or only modestly contribute to greenhouse effects.

Incineration of waste ensures recovery of 94 % of the energy contained in waste in the form of power and heat. Treatment of flue-gases and wastewater ensures that discharges of xenobiotic substances to air and water are limited and that residues, i.e. bottom ash and fly ash, are recycled for example in road construction.

The district heating systems have played a very important role in the implementation of Danish energy policy as formulated in the energy plan ”Danish Energy Policy 1976” and all subsequent energy plans.
The extension of combined power and heating and waste-based district heating has thus been a decisive precondition for Denmark being able to reduce consumption of fossil fuels and thus CO2 emissions.