Africa could generate up to 58 million MWh from waste by 2060

African waste volume is expected to triple from 174 million tonnes per year in 2016 to 516 million tonnes by 2050. The drivers are urbanisation and population growth. Experts predict that countries like Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa could face economic losses exceeding$2 billion each by 2060 if landfill practices are not improved. Landfills generate methane, which is 80 times more harmful per tonne for the climate than carbon, leading to significant health and environmental damage – though Africa does have a chance to turn this around.

• Large-scale recycling and recovery technologies could cost up to $42 billion but are essential to avoid greater future costs.

• Waste management strategies could inject an additional $8 billion annually into Africa's economy, fostering growth and job creation.

• Embracing circular economy principles could reduce plastic waste by 40% to 50% by 2026.

• The African waste management market is estimated at $22 billion in 2024 and likely to reach $28 billion by 2029.

• Investing in waste-to-energy technologies, such as sanitary landfills and anaerobic digestion, is cost-effective compared to the economic damage from methane emissions.

• Although the solutions are not cheap, they are more affordable than the alternative.