Cross-border waste-to-energy co-op forges new green link for China, SE Asia
Leading Chinese waste incineration companies are deepening their engagement in Southeast Asian countries - including Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia - where waste-to-energy incineration accounts for roughly 10 percent of municipal solid waste treatment and which continues to face significant waste management challenges, according to a recent weekly report on the environmental protection sector by China's Cinda Securities.
China's waste incineration industry - firmly aligned with green and circular development - has entered a mature phase marked by quality upgrades and technological refinement. What is unfolding is growing cross-border cooperation that could become a new pillar of regional green economic integration.
In recent years, incineration has increasingly become an important aspect of urban solid waste management in China. Facility scale, engineering capability and operational standards now rank among the world's most advanced. The industry has shifted from rapid capacity expansion to a stage emphasizing stricter regulation, higher environmental standards and improved efficiency.
More than 1,000 waste incineration plants operate in China, accounting for nearly half of global capacity, with daily processing capability exceeding 1.1 million tons. In 2024 alone, China handled more than 262 million tons of urban household waste, with nearly 79 percent treated through incineration, Guangming Ribao reported in July. These figures reflect systemic technology advancement and a green transformation that many developing economies are now seeking to realize.
The green nature of waste incineration, however, also depends on governance. In China, beyond capacity expansion, the industry is promoting standardized operations and phasing out outdated facilities through clear and strict standards on emissions and energy efficiency. By combining encouragement with regulation, a favorable environment is created for healthy, rapid development, guiding companies toward larger, smarter, and more resource-efficient operations.
Recent domestic reporting illustrates this upgrading trend. Next-generation waste-to-energy projects in Southwest China's Chongqing, for example, integrates digital and artificial intelligence-based systems to optimize combustion efficiency and power generation. Operators such as Chongqing Sanfeng Environment are deploying smart platforms that convert municipal waste into clean energy more efficiently and with tighter emissions control, according to the Workers' Daily. These projects underscore the industry's evolution toward intelligent, low-carbon infrastructure rather than unchecked expansion.
Yet some foreign commentary continues to frame China's waste incineration sector as overbuilt and unbalanced, suggesting that companies must seek waste abroad to survive. This interpretation overlooks two key realities. First, China's leadership in waste incineration - both in scale and technology - has produced mature solutions that are increasingly relevant to countries still grappling with landfill dependence. Second, overseas engagement is driven less by excess capacity than by external demand for modern waste treatment.
Southeast Asia provides a clear example. Countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia have long relied on landfill facilities, which face growing pressure from urbanization, environmental risks and land scarcity. Demand for waste-to-energy facilities - offering volume reduction, energy generation and improved sanitation - is rising steadily. For Chinese environmental companies, this creates opportunities to export integrated solutions encompassing engineering, equipment, operational expertise and regulatory experience.
China Everbright Environment Group illustrates this trend. The company operates in 16 countries across Asia and Europe, including Vietnam, Poland, Uzbekistan and Germany, with businesses spanning waste-to-energy and solid waste treatment. In Vietnam's central city of Hue, Everbright developed and financed a waste-to-energy plant capable of processing about 220,000 tons of municipal waste annually and generating roughly 80 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity. Emissions from the facility meet all Vietnamese national environmental standards, demonstrating that technology transfer can align with local regulatory requirements.
From a regional economic perspective, such green infrastructure cooperation - when grounded in respect for local social and environmental conditions - can become a new driver for Southeast Asian green development. Beyond waste treatment, these projects stimulate equipment manufacturing, engineering services and technical consulting, while fostering dialogue on environmental standards, energy policy and circular economy models.
Rather than signaling an imbalance, China's overseas waste-to-energy engagement reflects the maturation of an industry now capable of contributing to shared green development. In this sense, cross-border waste incineration cooperation is about building a cleaner, more sustainable future together.
SOURCE: Cross-border waste-to-energy co-op forges new green link for China, SE Asia - Global Times