To enable the utilisation of heat and electricity recovered from MSWI plants, consumers must either be situated in the proximity of the MSWI plants or the MSWI plants need to be relocated to be based near consumers.

Historical developments and federal politics have led to Switzerland now having a large number of MSWI plants. However, only a few of these plants are located at sites that are optimal for heat recovery. Generally speaking, the linking with or the local settlement of heat consumers should be evaluated. Prior to modernisation measures being undertaken, the relocation of plants to a location with greater heating requirements should also be examined. The fact that income from the sale of energy currently contributes little to a MSWI plant’s revenues is problematic.Project “Economics of waste-to-energy systems” There is thus a lack of financial incentives for an energetic optimisation. In order to increase efficiency levels, the implementation of the requirement for MSWI plants to achieve net energy-efficiency of 55 % by the end of 2025ADWO. 2016. Ordinance on the Avoidance and the Disposal of Waste (Waste Ordinance, VVEA) Berne, Switzerland. must therefore be accelerated.

A wide range of stakeholders must contribute to the optimisation of heat utilisation:

• Modelling of future heating demand, especially in residential areas (energy suppliers, research): ever improving building insulation is leading to declining heating requirements per square metre of living space. District heating networks, however, are infrastructures with a long service life and present significant investment requirements, meaning that information about the development of future heating needs is essential for their economic viability.
• Examination of reduction in the number of MSWI plants (cantons, federal government): focussing energy production at locations with a high heating demand such as industrial zones or cities must be analysed. A reduction in the number of plants must, however, go hand in hand with investigations regarding the safe disposal of waste and the long-term development of local heating demand.
• Identification of potential offered by low temperature or residual heat utilisation (businesses, associations): this heat must be used locally and is suitable for greenhouses, for example.

State bodies such as the Federal Office for the Environment are best placed to implement the essential coordination of the various activities.