Sicily approves €881 million waste‑to‑energy plants for Palermo and Catania

Regional President Renato Schifani presented the final plans for two waste‑to‑energy incinerators in Palermo and Catania as part of Sicily's new regional waste plan. The €881 million projects, financed with EU funds, aim to process waste, generate electricity and replace landfill disposal.

The plants will together produce about 469.6 GWh per year – enough to supply roughly 174 000 households – with 10 % of the electricity used on‑site and the remainder fed into the grid. Expected operating time is 8 000 hours annually (about 91 % uptime), making them among the most reliable facilities in Europe. The initiative is projected to cut landfill use to 10 % of waste, raise material recovery to 65 % and deliver roughly €100 million in annual savings for municipalities and citizens through lower waste‑collection fees.

European Commission officials have praised the plan for its low emissions and sustainability, noting that the facilities incorporate advanced technology to convert waste directly into electricity without waste.