The continent is getting closer to its waste-to-energy ambitions

• Across several African markets, waste-to-energy projects have revealed a gap between promise and performance, with some commissioned facilities continuing to face performance challenges.

• As governments pursue WtE ambitions, closing the structural and execution gaps flagged by industry experts will be critical to avoiding the setbacks that limited earlier projects.

• Our take: Whether Africa can deliver on its waste-to-energy ambitions will depend on alignment of key elements… Read more (2 min)

Opinion: The waste divide we don’t talk about

• Mr Mannie is a global waste and circular economy executive with experience across Africa, the Middle East and international markets. His work has included sustainability delivery for Expo 2020 Dubai, waste strategy advisory for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 (Lusail Stadium), development of a city-scale waste master plan for Luanda, Angola, and leadership of the hazardous waste business unit at Veolia Southern Africa.

• “To build circularity, you need a functioning baseline: reliable waste collection, safe disposal, engineered landfills, robust recycling markets, and effective environmental regulation. These basics are not prevalent in much of the world,” he says.

• Read the full opinion article here (2 min)

How global textile flows are testing Africa’s circular economy

• Sub-Saharan Africa generates an estimated 5.8 million tonnes of textile waste each year, a figure increasingly linked to the influx of low-quality secondhand clothing originating from Western fast fashion chains.

• In countries such as Ghana and Kenya, as much as 50 percent of imported used clothing is reportedly unsellable, with rejected garments diverted to landfills, open burning and waterways.

• Our take: If secondhand clothing is to remain part of a circular model, importing and exporting countries may need to agree on enforceable quality standards and clarify responsibility.…Read more (2 min)

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