The Vinča waste-to-energy plant near Belgrade has processed its first one million tonnes of municipal waste, marking a major step in the Serbian capital’s move away from landfill-based disposal.
Between August 2021 and August 2026, more than three million tonnes of non-hazardous municipal waste were delivered to the Vinča complex. Around one-third was thermally treated instead of being buried.
Processing the first million tonnes generated 455,213 MWh of electricity and 293,172 MWh of heat, converting part of Belgrade’s municipal waste stream into usable energy.
The plant operates with continuous emissions monitoring. Automated systems track environmental performance around the clock as waste is combusted and energy is recovered.
Vinča was developed through a public-private partnership between the City of Belgrade and Beo Čista Energija, a project company established by ITOCHU Corporation, Veolia and infrastructure investor Marguerite.
The facility is central to Belgrade’s effort to reduce dependence on the old Vinča landfill, which had become one of the city’s largest environmental liabilities. Energy recovery provides an alternative for residual waste that cannot be economically recycled.
The project’s long-term value will depend on maintaining a clear waste hierarchy. Recycling and material recovery must remain ahead of incineration, while only non-recyclable residual waste should be directed towards energy production.
For Belgrade, the first million tonnes demonstrate that the complex has reached significant operating scale. The next test will be whether the city can combine reliable energy recovery with higher recycling rates and tighter control of the overall waste stream.
