Monaco has confirmed plans to build a new Energy Recovery Unit in Fontvieille, replacing its ageing incineration facility and reaffirming its long-standing commitment to managing waste locally. The move, driven by legal, environmental, and strategic concerns, ensures the Principality maintains control over a critical part of its public services.
The decision follows a legal assessment commissioned by the government, which concluded that exporting all of Monaco’s waste to another country – such as France or Italy – could carry serious legal risks. According to the analysis, European and international regulations make full externalisation a fragile option.
“The government has decided to preserve a minimum waste treatment capacity in Monaco in order to guarantee the country’s autonomy,” officials said. “Outsourcing this mission entirely would neither be legally secure nor responsible in terms of public service and sovereignty.”
The proposed energy recovery facility will be built on the current Fontvieille site after the existing plant is demolished. Authorities say it will not only handle Monaco’s waste but also convert it into energy – producing heat, cold, and electricity for the local area. It will include a system for processing wastewater sludge.
Modernising Fontvieille’s unique energy system
Fontvieille is home to an unusual and highly efficient energy model: 95% of its heating, 30% of its cooling, and part of its electricity come from waste-to-energy conversion. Officials say scrapping that capability would undermine a system developed over decades.
By investing in the new Energy Recovery Unit, Monaco aims to upgrade that model, securing both energy independence and long-term climate goals.
The project replaces two alternative strategies that were ultimately set aside. One was the idea of full waste export, deemed too uncertain; the other, known as the ‘Symbiose’ project, failed to meet technical and operational requirements. After reviewing both, the government opted for what it describes as “a concrete and sustainable solution”.
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Photo source: Government Communications Department