Our climate

Attero invests in CO₂ reduction

Attero has been investing in the more sustainable processing of waste streams for decades. Until the early 1990s, residual waste was still often landfilled in the Netherlands. Landfilled residual waste emits methane, an aggressive greenhouse gas. The waste sector - and also Attero - has invested in waste-to-energy plants so that residual waste is no longer landfilled, but instead converted into sustainable energy. In addition, Attero extracts methane from landfills to make green gas. Landfills that are no longer used are covered and further developed for recreational purposes. As a result, CO_2eq emissions from residual waste processing in the Netherlands are no less than seventy percent lower than in 1990.

Attero's CO₂ footprint

Attero wants to further reduce its emissions and ultimately become carbon neutral. Attero emitted a total of 864 kt of _CO2eq in 2022. The majority of emissions were caused by incinerating residual waste to produce energy (631 kilotons). Residual waste largely consists of fossil content such as plastic, which causes fossil CO₂ emissions when incinerated. Methane emissions from landfills decreased further to 151 kilotons in 2022.

To reduce emissions even further and recycle even more, Attero invests in the post-separation of packaging material, such as plastic packaging. This means less plastic is burned and fossil CO₂ emissions are further reduced. However, the largest reduction can be achieved with Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS). CO₂ is captured from the flue gases of the waste-to-energy plant and stored in empty gas fields under the North Sea. Because biogenic CO₂ is also captured, even negative CO₂ emissions are achieved. Attero is currently investigating the possibilities for investments in CO₂ capture at its waste-to-energy plants.

Avoided emissions

With its activities, Attero also creates avoided emissions. By making secondary raw materials such as recycled plastic, metals and compost, these raw materials do not have to be mined. Companies that use Attero's secondary raw materials in 2022 avoided 249 kilotons of CO₂ emissions. Attero also produces electricity, steam, heat, green gas and sustainable fuels from waste that replaces energy from fossil sources. In 2022, 693 kilotons of CO₂ emissions were avoided with this energy. In total, Attero avoided no less than 942 kilotons of CO₂ emissions in the supply chain in 2022.