The amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerated in the EU is expected to increase from 31 million tonnes per year (Mtpa) in 1990 to 56.5 Mtpa in 2004.This development is due to the increase in the amount of waste generated and the decrease in waste going to landfills. Large increases in the amounts of other wastes going to incineration are also anticipated. The banning of sea dumping for sewage sludge, coupled with increases in production of sludge due to the implementation of the Urban Waste Water Directive, will also contribute to substantial investment in new incineration capacity in, the EU.