Look around you. What do you see? For many in the developed world, it’s a landscape of convenience – packages delivered, takeout containers discarded, waste bins overflowing. But for much of Africa, that waste tells a different story: a story of missed opportunities, of resources buried instead of harnessed, and of potential economic and environmental devastation looming large
We’re not just talking about the unsightly piles of refuse that plague cities from Lagos to Nairobi. We’re talking about a continent drowning in its own discarded potential, while simultaneously thirsting for the very thing that waste can provide: energy.
The world has woken up to Waste-to-Energy (WTE).
Europe has long been ahead of the curve – picture Scandinavia not as a pristine paradise, but as a surprisingly efficient importer of other people’s garbage, all in the name of powering its cities and heating its homes. Scandinavia has particularly demonstrated the potential of its WTE as a sustainable waste management and energy solution. For instance, approximately 50 percent of Sweden’s household waste is used for energy recovery while Denmark, on the other hand, has also embraced WTE as a key component of its waste management and energy strategy.
Its WTE plants provide district heating and electricity to its citizens, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Evidence shows that by combining stringent environmental regulations, technological innovation, and public support, these countries have transformed waste into a valuable resource, reducing landfill volumes, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, and generating clean energy.
It must be noted that while WTE is not a panacea, it can play a significant role in creating a more sustainable future.
Adedayo Mustapha
Interestingly, the European Union (EU) directives on waste management and renewable energy have enabled huge incentives for the development of WTE infrastructure across Europe.
Japan’s Waste-to-Energy mastery is a very strong lesson in necessity and innovation. It encapsulates a remarkable story of necessity-driven novelty, technological prowess, and a profound respect for resource management. Japan’s journey to becoming a global leader in Waste-to-Energy (WTE) is a compelling case study in how a nation can transform a seemingly intractable problem into a source of economic and environmental benefit.
Japan’s unique geographical constraints have long shaped its approach to waste management. With a densely populated archipelago comprising mostly mountainous terrain, suitable land for landfills is exceedingly scarce. This scarcity, coupled with a cultural emphasis on cleanliness and efficiency, has fostered a proactive and innovative approach to waste reduction and resource recovery.
The traditional approach of simply burying waste was never a viable long-term solution for Japan. Landfill space was rapidly dwindling, and the environmental consequences of burying large volumes of waste were becoming increasingly apparent. Leachate contamination of groundwater, greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing organic waste, and the aesthetic blight of overflowing landfills all contributed to a growing sense of urgency.
Faced with these challenges, Japan embarked on a path of technological innovation and policy reform, transforming its waste management system into a model of efficiency and sustainability. The cornerstone of this transformation has been the widespread adoption of Waste-to-Energy technologies.
WTE facilities in Japan are not simply incinerators; they are sophisticated engineering marvels designed to maximize energy recovery and minimize environmental impact. These plants utilize advanced combustion technologies to efficiently burn waste while capturing the heat generated in the process. This heat is then used to produce steam, which drives turbines to generate electricity.
North America, with its sprawling landscapes, is slowly but surely catching on with complex story of evolving attitudes, economic considerations, and the persistent tension between traditional landfilling and more sustainable waste management practices. In a region often characterized by vast open spaces and a historical abundance of resources, the shift towards WTE has been slower and more nuanced than in land-scarce and resource-constrained regions like Europe and Japan. However, the tide is turning.
For decades, North America, particularly the United States, has relied heavily on landfills as the primary means of waste disposal. The sheer size of the country, coupled with relatively low land costs, made landfilling a seemingly convenient and cost-effective option. The environmental consequences, however, have often been overlooked or downplayed. Landfills contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, contaminate groundwater, and have negative impacts on surrounding communities.
Canada, with its vast territories and lower population density, has similarly relied on landfilling, although there has been a growing emphasis on waste diversion and recycling in recent years. However, the country has a landfill limit and its political leadership have begun to consider alternatives through reforms. In Canada, several provinces, including Ontario and Quebec, are exploring WTE as a means of diverting waste from landfills and generating clean energy. There will be more that come in time as North America seeks sustainable alternatives.
In the United States, several states have been at the forefront of WTE adoption, including Florida, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. These states have a significant number of WTE facilities that generate electricity and reduce landfill volumes. For certain regions in the developed world, WTE isn’t just a thing of novelty; it is a well-established and proven technology driving unprecedented progress.
But what about Africa?
The continent stares down a double-barreled crisis: mountains of ever-increasing waste, and a crippling lack of access to reliable electricity. Millions live in the dark, businesses struggle to thrive, and entire communities are held back, all because the lights won’t turn on. And for most African countries, there is little that its communities can do about it. What most African communities end up doing is burning the waste, hence it has been named in this article “Africa’s Burning Opportunity.”
Here’s the thing: Africa isn’t poor in resources, it’s often just poor in access to them. The sun shines fiercely on the continent, and the wind whips across its vast plains. But there’s another resource, one that’s far less romantic but just as powerful: the very trash piling up in its streets. And why is this seen as a powerful tool? Well, because it helps the communities become a driving force to change their environment.
Here’s the truth: Africa needs to be empowered to learn how to sustain their own communities, or there is little value added. The old saying is very true, “give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” Africa needs to be taught how to sustain itself.
Imagine, for a moment, African cities transformed. Not just cleaner, but powered by the refuse they once struggled to contain. Picture small businesses humming to life with reliable electricity, hospitals staying open late, children studying under bright lights. Imagine a continent less reliant on volatile fossil fuels, and more in control of its own energy destiny. All that is needed is the education for the local communities so they themselves can lead. The new power to take what’s already being burned and improve the state of their own environment is possible.
It’s not a pipe dream. It’s achievable, and it’s within reach – but it requires a bold shift in mindset. It requires governments to stop seeing waste as a problem and start viewing it as an opportunity, an untapped goldmine waiting to be exploited. It requires clear and transparent regulations, partnerships that bridge the gap between public needs and private sector innovation, and a willingness to take a chance on technologies that have already proven their worth elsewhere in the world. It also means moving away from a dependency mindset and working to empower the African communities to act. It will take time and effort, but to get the momentum going, it will take new technologies, a shift in mindset and new investment strategies to see this happen.
And that’s where we, the global investors, come in. Forget the romanticized images of safaris and pristine beaches for a moment. Look at the sheer, undeniable need in Africa’s energy sector. Look at the raw potential of its waste streams. Then, do the math. The returns are not just financial; they’re societal, environmental, and frankly, transformative. It’s not just an act of altruism, but also an act of improving the planet in every respect. It is an opportunity to build an energy grid in the African communities and help build an economy. These areas could change as people focus and learn to re-engineer how to power and dispose of their waste.This change is here and it’s now. The planet is calling for us to innovate and change the trajectory of how we, the world, can do better.
Yes, there are challenges. The waste composition in many African nations differs from what you might find in Europe or North America. There’s a need for specialized technologies, and a need for investment in local skills. But these are challenges that can be overcome, with the right expertise and the right commitment.
What type of specializations?
We need to look at mechanical engineers who can learn how to build and maintain mechanical instruments. We need to train up electrical engineers who can learn to wire homes and building. Then, if we re-engineer the system, it can become an organic means of production for these communities to have sustainability and resources.
The time for hesitation is over. Africa needs a spark, an injection of innovation and investment that can ignite its latent potential. Waste-to-Energy isn’t just about cleaning up the streets; it’s about powering a continent, creating jobs, fostering sustainable growth, and ultimately, changing the narrative of Africa from one of need to one of abundance. This is not just an environmental concern, it’s an economic imperative, a social responsibility and it’s a chance to write a new chapter in the history of a continent. It is the chance to re-engineer not just the power for these communities but also to increase the job market and economy.
So, the next time you toss something in the trash, think about Africa. Think about the potential that lies dormant in that discarded item. And ask yourself: isn’t it time we helped them turn that trash into treasure? The future of a continent may depend on it. As investors, let us look into the immense opportunity to power up homes and provide electricity with what’s already in Africa. Then, let us all do our part to help, innovate, and act. As individuals, we can do our part. However, as a collective, we can re-engineer not just communities, but the world. Let’s all do our parts and help make the planet more clean!
If we go back into history, there have been many people who have changed our world. People like Nicolaus Copernicus who developed the concept of heliocentrism. Or, we can look at the Wright Brothers who worked tirelessly to get their airplane off the ground. What about the engineers who worked to develop microchips? There are so many people who have worked to improve and sustain the planet for generations to come. We have had visionaries of every ilk that have re-engineered the future. Now, it is time for our leaders to embrace new vision and invest in the African communities. Africa is worth it!
Many countries have had its leaders step up for the opportunity. It’s not just about re-election. It is the ability to write the chapter of history and do the right thing. Africa can become a powerhouse in its own right. But it will take action now. And it all starts with looking at what is already being burned and changing it so they can be empowered to have electricity and a new economy. Africa needs visionaries to step up and change their world.
As we look to the horizon, we must act. It’s not the time to ignore Africa, but the time to build it up. So here is the challenge to everyone. Take what we know and re-engineer it for the better. The time is now. The future is ours! Let’s help the world do better. Let’s help Africa do better. It is a new paradigm and we need more world leaders to embrace it.
About The Writer
Adedayo Mustaphais an insurance broker of global acclaim and, an investor in clean energy. He writes about globalization; providing deep insight on trade and investments. He has a record travel time on power bikes approximately 90 hours (6,300 KMs) – his own way of heralding the importance of a clean planet.