Africa’s waste-to-energy boom may be a costly detour

From the newsletter

With more than 560 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lacking access to electricity and waste volumes mounting, waste-to-energy has been gaining attention as a potential solution to both challenges. However, experts increasingly question whether incineration is an appropriate solution to Africa’s mounting waste-management challenges. 

• Municipal solid waste could generate an additional 100–245 kWh of electricity per person annually across sub-Saharan Africa, equivalent to a potential 63–155% increase on the region’s current average electricity generation of 158 kWh per person.

• A new report by environmental advocacy group Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA)  describes waste-to-energy incineration as the “wrong solution”, citing economic, environmental and public health concerns.

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