How landfills emerge an energy assets

November 23, 2025

Dear subscriber,

Nobody wants to live next to one, few want to work in one. But lack of love does not mean lack of opportunity. Landfills can prove their value by turning waste to watts. New projects show that yesterday’s rubbish can power tomorrow.

Mercy Maina-Editor

Often seen as a liability across Africa, landfills are emerging as untapped energy resources and revenue generators. South Africa’s Cape Town has launched a landfill gas-to-energy plant capable of powering 4,000 households. This comes as a study shows municipal solid waste, a major landfill component, can also be converted into sustainable aviation fuel.

  • Across the continent, landfills are extensive and largely unregulated, with open dumps posing environmental and health risks as well as releasing methane.

  • Despite these structural weaknesses, cities are beginning to recognise that landfills contain recoverable value that can support local energy security and climate goals.

  • Our take: Cape Town’s landfill gas-to-energy approach could serve as a blueprint for other African cities struggling with neglected landfills… Read more (2 min)

Africa’s circular economy job market is moving beyond legacy waste companies, with non-traditional players now taking the lead. Analysis of 30 new roles this month shows that firms where waste management is not the primary focus account for 19 positions, highlighting the expanding adoption of circular economy practices across industries.

  • These roles were identified based on their direct link to circular economy or waste-related activities, either through the company or the nature of the role.

  • Southern Africa dominates with 12 roles across South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, and Namibia. South Africa accounts for the majority, hosting 9 of the 12 positions.

  • Explore the latest openings across Africa’s circular sector here (2 min)

As the European Union continues enforcing anti-dumping duties on PET imports from certain countries, African rPET exporters face growing pressure, says Elozino Nathaniel. He warns that the continent could lose market share in Europe’s evolving recycled plastics sector unless exporters act proactively and align with EU standards.

  • Mr. Nathaniel is the CEO and Founder of BLOO, a B2B marketplace connecting suppliers of plastic recyclables with manufacturers and buyers worldwide.

  • He recommends that African recyclers start being strategic by improving quality checks, adopting digital traceability, obtaining recognized certifications, and collaborating through regional hubs to strengthen their appeal to European buyers.

  • Read the full opinion article here (2 min)

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Source: GIZ South Sudan

 A renovated hospital incinerator handed over by GIZ South Sudan to local authorities

Events

🗓️  Register for the Artistic Pulse Festival in Nigeria (December 3)

🗓️  Network at the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi (December 8)

Various

📱 MTN Ghana introduces biodegradable SIM cards for environmental sustainability

♻️ Op-ed: Bamako Convention cuts Africa out of the ship recycling industry

🗑️ Why Ghana must process its own plastic waste

🚒 Duty of care and devolution as the antidote for the waste disposal crisis

🚜 Municipalities: What to look for in waste compactors

🚁 Study finds municipal solid waste can be converted into sustainable aviation fuel

💣 Casablanca landfill, a significant source of methane emissions in global study

Seen on LinkedIn 

Alina Mitache, a PhD student in circular economy in the built environment, says, “Circular economy is not just about the economy or money;  it's about value, well-being, culture, and biodiversity. It’s a mindset rooted in lifecycle thinking.”