IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jcltec/v7y2025i3p63-d1708981.html

Social Acceptability of Waste-to-Energy: Research Hotspots, Technologies, and Factors

Author

Listed:
  • Casper Boongaling Agaton

    (Department of Community and Environmental Resource Planning, College of Human Ecology, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Los Baños 4031, Laguna, Philippines)

  • Marween Joshua A. Santos

    (Department of Community and Environmental Resource Planning, College of Human Ecology, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Los Baños 4031, Laguna, Philippines)

Abstract

Waste-to-energy (WtE) are clean technologies that support a circular economy by providing solutions to managing non-recyclable waste while generating alternative energy sources. Despite the promising benefits, technology adoption is challenged by financing constraints, technical maturity, environmental impacts, supporting policies, and public acceptance. A growing number of studies analyzed the acceptability of WtE and identified the factors affecting the adoption of WtE technologies. This study aims to analyze these research hotspots, technologies, and acceptability factors by combining bibliometric and systematic analyses. An initial search from the Web of Science and Scopus databases identified 817 unique documents, and the refinement resulted in 109 for data analysis. The results present a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art, providing researchers a basis for future research directions. Among the WtE technologies in the reviewed literature are incineration, anaerobic digestion, gasification, and pyrolysis, with limited studies about refuse-derived fuel and landfilling with gas recovery. The identified common factors include perceived risks, trust, attitudes, perceived benefits, “Not-In-My-BackYard” (NIMBY), awareness, and knowledge. Moreover, the findings present valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and WtE project planners to support WtE adoption while achieving sustainable, circular, and low-carbon economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Casper Boongaling Agaton & Marween Joshua A. Santos, 2025. "Social Acceptability of Waste-to-Energy: Research Hotspots, Technologies, and Factors," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-28, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jcltec:v:7:y:2025:i:3:p:63-:d:1708981
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8797/7/3/63/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8797/7/3/63/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Natalia Vukovic & Evgenia Makogon, 2024. "Waste-to-Energy Generation: Complex World Project Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-20, April.
    2. Donthu, Naveen & Kumar, Satish & Mukherjee, Debmalya & Pandey, Nitesh & Lim, Weng Marc, 2021. "How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 285-296.
    3. Dek Vimean Pheakdey & Nguyen Van Quan & Tran Dang Xuan, 2023. "Economic and Environmental Benefits of Energy Recovery from Municipal Solid Waste in Phnom Penh Municipality, Cambodia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-19, April.
    4. Simeng Li, 2024. "Reviewing Air Pollutants Generated during the Pyrolysis of Solid Waste for Biofuel and Biochar Production: Toward Cleaner Production Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-30, January.
    5. Qing Yang & Yanxia Zhu & Xingxing Liu & Lingmei Fu & Qianqian Guo, 2019. "Bayesian-Based NIMBY Crisis Transformation Path Discovery for Municipal Solid Waste Incineration in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-21, April.
    6. Xu, Min & Liu, Yong & Cui, Caiyun & Xia, Bo & Ke, Yongjian & Skitmore, Martin, 2023. "Social acceptance of NIMBY facilities: A comparative study between public acceptance and the social license to operate analytical frameworks," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    7. Natalia Vukovic & Evgenia Makogon, 2022. "Waste-to-Energy Generation: Complex Efficiency Analysis of Modern Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-18, October.
    8. Giovanni Gadaleta & Francesco Todaro & Annamaria Giuliano & Sabino De Gisi & Michele Notarnicola, 2024. "Co-Treatment of Food Waste and Municipal Sewage Sludge: Technical and Environmental Review of Biological and Thermal Technologies," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-34, July.
    9. Safwat Hemidat & Ouafa Achouri & Loubna El Fels & Sherien Elagroudy & Mohamed Hafidi & Benabbas Chaouki & Mostafa Ahmed & Isla Hodgkinson & Jinyang Guo, 2022. "Solid Waste Management in the Context of a Circular Economy in the MENA Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-24, January.
    10. Lu, Jintao & Rong, Dan & Lev, Benjamin & Liang, Mengshang & Zhang, Chong & Gao, Yangyang, 2023. "Constraints affecting the promotion of waste incineration power generation project in China: A perspective of improved technology acceptance model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PB).
    11. Christos Vlachokostas & Charisios Achillas & Ioannis Agnantiaris & Alexandra V. Michailidou & Christos Pallas & Eleni Feleki & Nicolas Moussiopoulos, 2020. "Decision Support System to Implement Units of Alternative Biowaste Treatment for Producing Bioenergy and Boosting Local Bioeconomy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-14, May.
    12. Satish Kumar & Riya Sureka & Sisira Colombage, 2020. "Capital structure of SMEs: a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 70(4), pages 535-565, November.
    13. Samina Alam & Kazi Sajedur Rahman & Md. Rokonuzzaman & P. Abdul Salam & Md. Sazal Miah & Narottam Das & Shahariar Chowdhury & Sittiporn Channumsin & Suwat Sreesawet & Manun Channumsin, 2022. "Selection of Waste to Energy Technologies for Municipal Solid Waste Management—Towards Achieving Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-17, September.
    14. Fivga, Antzela & Dimitriou, Ioanna, 2018. "Pyrolysis of plastic waste for production of heavy fuel substitute: A techno-economic assessment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 865-874.
    15. Mike U. Ajieh & Ebuwa S. Isagba & Newton Ihoeghian & Valerie I. O. Edosa & Andrew Amenaghawon & Cyprian E. Oshoma & Nosakhare Erhunmwunse & Ifeyinwa S. Obuekwe & Isioma Tongo & Christopher Emokaro & L, 2021. "Assessment of sociocultural acceptability of biogas from faecal waste as an alternative energy source in selected areas of Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(9), pages 13182-13199, September.
    16. Ribeiro, Barbara E. & Quintanilla, Miguel A., 2015. "Transitions in biofuel technologies: An appraisal of the social impacts of cellulosic ethanol using the Delphi method," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 53-68.
    17. Nketiah, Emmanuel & Song, Huaming & Obuobi, Bright & Adu-Gyamfi, Gibbson & Adjei, Mavis & Cudjoe, Dan, 2022. "Citizens' willingness to pay for local anaerobic digestion energy: The influence of altruistic value and knowledge," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    18. Shao-nan Shan & Xia Duan & Ting-ting Zhang & Yi Zhang & He Wang, 2021. "The impact of environmental benefits and institutional trust on residents’ willingness to participate in municipal solid waste treatment: a case study in Beijing, China [Burn or bury? A social cost comparison of final waste disposal methods]," International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, Oxford University Press, vol. 16(4), pages 1170-1186.
    19. Massimiliano Mazzanti & Marco Modica & Andrea Rampa, 2021. "The Biogas dilemma: an analysis on the Social Approval of large new plants," SEEDS Working Papers 0221, SEEDS, Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies, revised Apr 2021.
    20. Portia Adade Williams & Satyanarayana Narra & Edward Antwi & Wilhemina Quaye & Elizabeth Hagan & Roland Asare & Johnny Owusu-Arthur & Vicky Shettigondahalli Ekanthalu, 2023. "Review of Barriers to Effective Implementation of Waste and Energy Management Policies in Ghana: Implications for the Promotion of Waste-to-Energy Technologies," Waste, MDPI, vol. 1(2), pages 1-20, March.
    21. Zeng, Jing & Duan, Hongyu & Zhu, Weiwei & Song, Jingyan, 2024. "Understanding residents’ risk information seeking, processing and sharing regarding waste incineration power projects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    22. Fanlin Kong & Shaojun Chen & Jie Gou, 2023. "How Does Differential Public Participation Influence Outcome Justice in Energy Transitions? Evidence from a Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Project in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-15, December.
    23. Stanislav Martinát & Justyna Chodkowska-Miszczuk & Marián Kulla & Josef Navrátil & Petr Klusáček & Petr Dvořák & Ladislav Novotný & Tomáš Krejčí & Loránt Pregi & Jakub Trojan & Bohumil Frantál, 2022. "Best Practice Forever? Dynamics behind the Perception of Farm-Fed Anaerobic Digestion Plants in Rural Peripheries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-17, March.
    24. Vivek Kumar Singh & Prashasti Singh & Mousumi Karmakar & Jacqueline Leta & Philipp Mayr, 2021. "The journal coverage of Web of Science, Scopus and Dimensions: A comparative analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(6), pages 5113-5142, June.
    25. Jing Zeng & Mengyue Li & Xiyu Pu & Liang Liu, 2023. "Exploring the effects of information insufficiency on residents’ intention to seek information about waste-to-energy incineration projects," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(4), pages 415-432, April.
    26. Borges, Cosme P. & Silberg, Timothy R. & Uriona-Maldonado, Mauricio & Vaz, Caroline R., 2023. "Scaling actors’ perspectives about innovation system functions: Diffusion of biogas in Brazil," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    27. Gałko, Grzegorz & Mazur, Izabela & Rejdak, Michał & Jagustyn, Barbara & Hrabak, Joanna & Ouadi, Miloud & Jahangiri, Hessam & Sajdak, Marcin, 2023. "Evaluation of alternative refuse-derived fuel use as a valuable resource in various valorised applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PD).
    28. Christos Mertzanakis & Christos Vlachokostas & Charalampos Toufexis & Alexandra V. Michailidou, 2024. "Closing the Loop between Waste-to-Energy Technologies: A Holistic Assessment Based on Multiple Criteria," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-21, June.
    29. Agaton, Casper Boongaling & Guno, Charmaine Samala & Villanueva, Resy Ordona & Villanueva, Riza Ordona, 2020. "Economic analysis of waste-to-energy investment in the Philippines: A real options approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    30. Varsha P S & Amrita Chakraborty & Arpan Kumar Kar, 2024. "How to Undertake an Impactful Literature Review: Understanding Review Approaches and Guidelines for High-impact Systematic Literature Reviews," South Asian Journal of Business and Management Cases, , vol. 13(1), pages 18-35, April.
    31. He, Ke & Zhang, Junbiao & Zeng, Yangmei, 2018. "Rural households' willingness to accept compensation for energy utilization of crop straw in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(PA), pages 562-571.
    32. Casper Boongaling Agaton, 2024. "Real Options Analysis of Constructed Wetlands as Nature-Based Solutions to Wastewater Treatment Under Multiple Uncertainties: A Case Study in the Philippines," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-17, November.
    33. He, Ke & Zhang, Junbiao & Wang, Anbang & Chang, Huayi, 2020. "Rural households’ perceived value of energy utilization of crop residues: A case study from China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 286-295.
    34. Xiongwei Quan & Gaoshan Zuo & Helin Sun, 2022. "Risk Perception Thresholds and Their Impact on the Behavior of Nearby Residents in Waste to Energy Project Conflict: An Evolutionary Game Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-20, May.
    35. Hachemi, Houssem & Seladji, Chakib & Negadi, Latifa & Bhandari, Ramchandra & Aryal, Sachin & Sacko, Bakamba dite Djénéba, 2024. "Improving municipal solid waste management in Algeria and exploring energy recovery options," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    36. Dzintra Atstaja & Natalija Cudecka-Purina & Viktor Koval & Jekaterina Kuzmina & Janis Butkevics & Hanna Hrinchenko, 2024. "Waste-to-Energy in the Circular Economy Transition and Development of Resource-Efficient Business Models," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-23, August.
    37. Anna Konstantinidou & Konstantinos Ioannou & Georgios Tsantopoulos & Garyfallos Arabatzis, 2024. "Citizens’ Attitudes and Practices Towards Waste Reduction, Separation, and Recycling: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-36, November.
    38. Casper Boongaling Agaton & Patricia Marie Caparas Guila, 2024. "Success Factors and Challenges: Implications of Real Options Valuation of Constructed Wetlands as Nature-Based Solutions for Wastewater Treatment," Resources, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, January.
    39. Ramos, Ana & Rouboa, Abel, 2022. "Life cycle thinking of plasma gasification as a waste-to-energy tool: Review on environmental, economic and social aspects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    40. Christina Emmanouil & Kalliopi Papadopoulou & Iliana Papamichael & Antonis A. Zorpas, 2022. "Pay-as-You-Throw (PAYT) for Municipal Solid Waste Management in Greece: On Public Opinion and Acceptance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-15, November.
    41. Jae-hyuck Lee & Kyung-hee Shin & Jong-mun Park & Choong-gon Kim & Kong-jang Cho, 2021. "Subjectivity Analysis of Underground Incinerators: Focus on Academic and Industry Experts," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-12, November.
    42. Yanbo Zhang & Yong Liu & Keyu Zhai, 2021. "Identifying the Predictors of Community Acceptance of Waste Incineration Plants in Urban China: A Qualitative Analysis from a Public Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-16, September.
    43. Giovanni Gadaleta & Michele Notarnicola & Sabino De Gisi, 2023. "The Treatment of Municipal Solid Waste in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam: An Environmental and Technological Analysis of Current and Future Scenarios," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-20, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rashid, Mushab & Khalid Anser, Muhammad & Nassani, Abdelmohsen A. & Al-Aiban, Khalid M. & Zaman, Khalid & Haffar, Mohamed, 2025. "Assessing the interplay between waste-to-energy capacity, infrastructure investment, technological innovation, composting adoption, and governmental effectiveness," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    2. Güler Koştı & İsmail Kayadibi, 2025. "A bibliometric analysis of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications for human resource management," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Gaurav Mitra & Vandana Gupta & Gaurav Gupta, 2025. "A systematic literature review on the determinants of corporate governance for firm performance: evidence from India," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(4), pages 941-990, December.
    4. Satish Kumar & Filomena Maggino & Raj V. Mahto & Riya Sureka & Leonardo Salvatore Alaimo & Weng Marc Lim, 2022. "Social Indicators Research: A Retrospective Using Bibliometric Analysis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 162(1), pages 413-448, July.
    5. Md. Masud Rana & Shah Ridwan Chowdhury & Mohammad Safaet Siddiqee & Elma Noorain Momo & Afnan Yusuf & Md. Mahbubur Rahman, 2026. "Thirty years of digital entrepreneurship research through a systematic review and bibliometric analysis," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 1-30, December.
    6. Alida Volkmer, Sara & Meißner, Martin, 2024. "Beyond livestreaming: The rise of social media gifting and paid memberships − A systematic literature review and future research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    7. Dušan Nikolić & Dragan Ivanović & Lidija Ivanović, 2024. "An open-source tool for merging data from multiple citation databases," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 129(7), pages 4573-4595, July.
    8. Bhavna Thawani & Tushar Panigrahi & Meena Bhatia, 2024. "Eleven years of integrated reporting: a bibliometric analysis," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(4), pages 666-684, December.
    9. Rai, Varun Kumar & Bruna, Maria Giuseppina & Hunjra, Ahmed Imran & Pandey, Dharen Kumar & Lal, Madan, 2024. "COVID-19 literature in Elsevier finance journal ecosystem," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    10. Alaminos, David & Guillén-Pujadas, Miguel & Vizuete-Luciano, Emili & Merigó, José María, 2024. "What is going on with studies on financial speculation? Evidence from a bibliometric analysis," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PB), pages 429-445.
    11. Homero Rodríguez-Insuasti & Néstor Montalván-Burbano & Otto Suárez-Rodríguez & Marcela Yonfá-Medranda & Katherine Parrales-Guerrero, 2022. "Creative Economy: A Worldwide Research in Business, Management and Accounting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-27, November.
    12. Pandey, Dharen Kumar & Hassan, M.Kabir & Kumari, Vineeta & Zaied, Younes Ben & Rai, Varun Kumar, 2024. "Mapping the landscape of FinTech in banking and finance: A bibliometric review," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(PA).
    13. Shankar T. Naskar & Jose Maria Merigo Lindahl, 2026. "Forty years of the theory of planned behavior: a bibliometric analysis (1985–2024)," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 76(1), pages 573-632, February.
    14. Jeffrey Muldoon & Younggeun Lee & Eric W. Liguori & Saumyaranjan Sahoo & Satish Kumar, 2024. "Mapping the entrepreneurship ecosystem scholarship: current state and future directions," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 3035-3080, December.
    15. Aakash Singh & Anurag Kanaujia & Vivek Kumar Singh & Ricardo Vinuesa, 2024. "Artificial intelligence for Sustainable Development Goals: Bibliometric patterns and concept evolution trajectories," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(1), pages 724-754, February.
    16. Raghu Raman & Hiran Lathabhai & Santanu Mandal & Chandan Kumar & Prema Nedungadi, 2023. "Contribution of Business Research to Sustainable Development Goals: Bibliometrics and Science Mapping Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-37, August.
    17. Haijiao Liu & Jiahui Yu & Boyu Wu & Yanheng Ren & Qing Liu, 2025. "Bibliometric analysis and content analysis of digital entrepreneurship: utilizing the WoS and Scopus databases," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-26, December.
    18. Pandey, Dharen Kumar & Hunjra, Ahmed Imran & Bhaskar, Ratikant & Al-Faryan, Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh, 2023. "Artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data in natural resources management: A comprehensive bibliometric review of literature spanning 1975–2022," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PA).
    19. Ferdoush, Md. Ruhul & Aziz, Ridwan Al & Karmaker, Chitra Lekha & Debnath, Binoy & Limon, Mohammad Hossain & Bari, A.B.M. Mainul, 2024. "Unraveling the challenges of waste-to-energy transition in emerging economies: Implications for sustainability," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(2).
    20. Wang, Anbang & He, Ke & Zhang, Junbiao & Zeng, Yangmei, 2021. "Green Production Technologies and Technical Efficiency of Rice Farmers in China: A Case Study of Straw-Derived Biochar," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315026, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jcltec:v:7:y:2025:i:3:p:63-:d:1708981. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.