GAIA Report Warns Africa Risks $4bn Waste Incineration Burden

By Atlantic Reports

African countries risk committing more than $4 billion to waste-to-energy incineration projects that could create long-term financial obligations, threaten livelihoods and worsen pollution, according to a new report by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA).

The report, released on Thursday and titled Africa’s Waste Crisis Is Attracting the Wrong Solution, identified 15 incineration projects and proposals across 10 African countries, including Nigeria, with an estimated combined electricity-generation capacity of between 520 and 550 megawatts.

Of the projects tracked in 2026, only one, the Reppie plant in Ethiopia, was operational, according to the report. Two were under construction, while 12 remained at various stages of planning, approval, financing or proposal.

GAIA argued that incineration was poorly suited to the composition of waste generated in many African cities and could divert public resources from less costly and more inclusive approaches centred on waste prevention, composting, reuse and recycling.

“The real choice is not between incineration and dumping, but between incineration and investing in a comprehensive zero waste system,” the report stated.

Low Recycling Rates Expose Waste Management Gaps

The report estimated that only 55 per cent of municipal solid waste generated across Africa was collected, while just four per cent was recycled.

It said these gaps had left many cities struggling with open dumping, uncontrolled burning and overstretched waste-management systems.

According to GAIA, governments under pressure to address overflowing dumpsites are increasingly being offered incineration as a solution that can dispose of waste while generating electricity.

However, the organisation warned that the technology could expose governments to substantial long-term financial commitments while producing air pollutants and toxic residues requiring further treatment and disposal.

The report argued that waste-management policies should reflect local conditions, particularly the composition of waste generated in African cities.

Organic Waste Raises Questions About Incineration

GAIA said waste generated in many African cities contains high levels of organic matter and moisture, making it less suitable for combustion than the drier, more recyclable waste streams common in some high-income countries.

The report cited data indicating that more than 62.5 per cent of solid waste generated in East Africa was organic.

It argued that composting and organic-material recovery could therefore offer more appropriate options for managing a substantial proportion of the region's waste.

The study also cited a United Nations Environment Programme assessment that found incineration could be particularly unsuitable for low- and middle-income countries because it may cost more than alternative waste-management methods and electricity-generation options.

These findings raise questions about whether proposed projects have adequately assessed local waste composition, construction and operating costs, emissions controls and alternative technologies.

Long-Term Contracts Could Discourage Recycling

The report warned that incinerators typically require hundreds of millions of dollars to construct and may take between 20 and 30 years to pay off.

According to GAIA, these financial arrangements can create pressure to maintain a continuous supply of combustible waste throughout the lifespan of the infrastructure.

Such obligations, the organisation argued, could undermine efforts to reduce waste generation, expand recycling, encourage reuse and promote composting.

The extent of this risk depends on individual project contracts, including waste-supply requirements, payment arrangements and provisions governing performance.

The report called for independent feasibility studies and transparent financial assessments before governments commit public resources to major incineration projects.

Informal Waste Pickers Face Livelihood Concerns

GAIA also warned that incineration projects could threaten informal waste pickers who depend on collecting and recovering recyclable materials such as plastics, paper and cardboard.

The report estimated that waste pickers collected, sorted and recycled between 15 and 20 per cent of the waste produced in Africa.

It cited interviews with waste pickers around Addis Ababa's Koshe dumpsite in Ethiopia, which reportedly found that earnings had declined by 50 per cent following the introduction of the Reppie incinerator.

According to the report, the decline forced some workers to resort to street begging.

GAIA said governments should instead strengthen source-separated waste collection, composting and material-recovery facilities while integrating waste pickers into formal municipal waste-management systems.

It also urged authorities to protect their livelihoods through fair pay, safer working conditions and recognition of their right to organise.

Zimbabwe Project Raises Transparency Questions

The report highlighted the Pomona waste-to-energy project in Harare, Zimbabwe, as an example of concerns surrounding procurement, transparency and long-term municipal liabilities.

According to GAIA, Harare City Council granted Geogenix BV a 30-year concession valued at between $300 million and $350 million without a competitive tender process or an independent feasibility study.

The report further stated that the council paid the company approximately $22,000 to $40,000 daily to dispose of waste at the Pomona site, which the city owned and had previously managed without charge.

It added that civil society organisations had challenged the agreement in court, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.

The claims are those presented in the GAIA report. Establishing the full circumstances would require examination of the concession agreement, relevant payment records, procurement documents and court proceedings.

The case nevertheless highlights the importance of public scrutiny when local authorities enter long-term waste-management agreements with private companies.

GAIA Calls for Greater Public Oversight

GAIA urged African governments to suspend new incineration agreements until independent assessments had been conducted with civil society participation.

It also recommended mandatory disclosure of financing arrangements, waste-supply contracts and environmental impact assessments before projects receive approval.

The organisation called on governments and development finance institutions to prioritise waste prevention, separation at source, composting, recycling and organic-waste recovery.

It further advocated stronger producer-responsibility policies, which place greater responsibility on manufacturers for managing waste associated with their products and packaging.

According to the report, these measures would better support the African Union's Agenda 2063 target of recycling at least 50 per cent of municipal waste.

What the Report Means for Nigeria

For Nigeria, where waste collection, disposal and recycling remain important urban management concerns, the report raises questions about how proposed waste-to-energy investments are assessed and financed.

Before committing to large-scale incineration infrastructure, governments need to establish whether projects are technically suitable for local waste streams, financially sustainable and supported by adequate environmental safeguards.

They also need to consider the effects on existing recycling businesses and informal workers who depend on recovering reusable materials.

GAIA's findings make a case for examining alternatives before public funds are committed. However, decisions on individual projects should be based on transparent feasibility studies, credible cost comparisons, environmental assessments and evidence of likely benefits.

The central challenge is to develop waste-management systems that improve collection and sanitation without creating unsustainable financial obligations or sacrificing livelihoods and environmental protection.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.