Acea is one of the leading national players with around 1.6 million tonnes of waste processed each year, including those handled. Acea operates across the entire waste treatment sector, with a particularly strong presence in the highest-margin segments. It manages a portfolio of treatment and disposal facilities across eight regions, including the main waste-to-energy plant within its operational area, the largest anaerobic digestion and composting plant in the Lazio Region, and the largest mechanical biological treatment plant in the Abruzzo region.
Acea prioritises investment in the development of waste-to-energy and waste-to-recycling activities, which are considered to have high potential, as well as in recovery and recycling within the plastics, paper and metals sectors and in the production of high-quality compost. These initiatives reflect the strategic objective of strengthening oversight of the integrated waste cycle, maximising circularity and promoting the reuse of resources.
Operating data and Economic and financial results
Operating data
U.M. | 2025 | 2024 | Change | % Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTE conferment | kt | 378.0 | 358.4 | 19.6 | 5.5% |
| MBT waste and landfill | kt | 518.5 | 445.0 | 73.5 | 16.5% |
| Conferments to composting plants | kt | 160.9 | 159.0 | 1.9 | 1.2% |
| Conferments to selection plants | kt | 330.3 | 336.9 | (6.7) | (2.0%) |
| Intermediated waste | kt | 125.1 | 154.0 | (28.9) | (18.8%) |
| Liquids treated at plants | kt | 90.4 | 227.0 | (136.6) | (60.2%) |
| WTE net electricity sold | GWh | 267.3 | 253.7 | 13.6 | 5.4% |
Economic and financial results
| € million | 2025 | 2024 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | 369.9 | 361.8 | 8.2 | 2.3% |
| Costs | 282.7 | 280.9 | 1.8 | 0.7% |
| EBITDA | 87.2 | 80.9 | 6.4 | 7.9% |
| Operating profit/(loss) | (5.1) | 0.7 | (5.8) | n.s. |
| Average workforce | 1,148 | 1,158 | (11) | (0.9%) |
| Capex | 116.5 | 108.5 | 8.0 | 7.4% |
EBITDA (EBITDA)
| € million | 2025 | 2024 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EBITDA – Environment Segment | 87.2 | 80.9 | 6.4 | 7.9% |
| EBITDA – Group | 1,420.0 | 1,328.9 | 91.1 | 6.9% |
| Percentage | 6.1% | 6.1% | 0.1 pp |
|
The Environment Segment closed 2025 with an EBITDA of €87.2 million, up by €6.4 million compared to the previous year (+ 7.9%). It was impacted by the improvement in the WTE margin (+€7.3 million), partly offset by the contraction in the Recycling margin (-€3.1 million), mainly due to the lower volumes supplied to sorting plants (-7,000 tonnes). The change was partly due to once-off effects (+€2.8 million), largely relating to the collapse of the Cirsu tank in 2024 (+€9.6 million) and the shutdown of the San Vittore WTE plant (-€5.6 million) in 2025 for work on the fourth line and revamping works.
The average number of employees as at 31 December 2025 was 1,148, slightly lower than at 31 December 2024.
Investments in the Segment amounted to €116.5 million, increasing by €8.0 million compared to 31 December 2024, primarily due to higher investments made in 2025 i) at the San Vittore plant for work on Line IV and for revamping works (+€22.0 million); ii) at the Orvieto plant for maintenance of the EE Biogas engine and refining plant (+€3.0 million); iii) relating to the revamping of the Serplast plant (+€2.0 million); iv) for the extension of tank IV at the Ecologica Sangro plant. These fluctuations were offset by lower investment in the Terni plant (-€20.0 million) in relation to the flue gas line.