Africa Is Sitting on a Power Source,
We Just Call It Waste
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Audio Title: Africa Is Sitting on a Power Source, We Just Call It Waste
Description: Across Africa, two challenges continue to dominate conversations about sustainability and development: rising plastic pollution and persistent energy shortages.
Across Africa, two challenges continue to dominate conversations about sustainability and development: rising plastic pollution and persistent energy shortages.
They are typically treated as separate crises.
But a growing body of data and a new generation of African ventures suggests they may, in fact, be closely linked.
Plastic waste has become one of the fastest-growing environmental concerns across Africa.
Estimates suggest that between a quarter and a third of all municipal waste on the continent is plastic, much of which is not formally collected or processed. In many countries, waste management systems are underdeveloped, resulting in large volumes of plastic ending up in landfills, waterways, or informal dump sites and eventually in the ocean.
Globally, the situation is equally concerning. Despite decades of awareness campaigns, only around 9% of plastic waste is recycled, while production continues to rise and is projected to triple by 2050.
South Africa reflects many of these challenges. A significant majority of waste, close to 90%, is still directed to landfill sites, placing increasing pressure on already strained infrastructure.
Beyond environmental impact, the consequences are economic and social. Poor waste management affects urban health, disrupts ecosystems, and limits opportunities for value creation within local economies.
Juran van den Heever
Purpose and Growth | Empowering African Brands to Lead and Scale | CMO, Fio Capital | Driving Growth Across the Continent
At the Same Time, Energy Demand Continues to Rise
Parallel to the waste challenge is Africa’s ongoing energy gap.
Many countries across the continent face:
- Unstable electricity supply
- Growing demand from urbanisation and industrialisation
- Infrastructure constraints limiting reliable distribution
In some regions, the overlap between waste and energy challenges is already visible. There have been instances where plastic waste accumulation has interfered with energy infrastructure, highlighting how environmental and energy systems are increasingly interconnected.
The broader reality is clear: Africa requires scalable, innovative energy solutions that can operate alongside existing systems while addressing local challenges.
Waste-to-Energy: Converting a Liability Into a Resource
One approach gaining traction globally and across parts of Africa is waste-to-energy (WTE).
Through processes such as thermal treatment and advanced conversion technologies, plastic and other forms of waste can be transformed into:
- Electricity
- Synthetic fuels
- Gas for industrial use
Projects on the continent have already demonstrated early success. In Ethiopia, a large-scale waste-to-energy facility processes municipal waste into electricity, contributing to the national grid. Similar initiatives are being explored and developed in other regions, including Southern Africa.
While still developing at scale, these models point to a broader opportunity: treating waste not as a disposal problem, but as an energy input.
Emerging Players in the Circular Energy Space
A number of African-focused ventures are beginning to position themselves within this intersection of waste management and energy production.
One such example is Africa World Energy Holdings, which is focused on developing and scaling waste-to-energy and circular economy solutions across the continent.
The company’s approach reflects a shift in thinking, from isolated waste collection or energy generation efforts toward integrated systems that link environmental management with energy infrastructure.
This includes:
- Converting waste streams into usable energy
- Reducing landfill dependency
- Creating economic participation opportunities within local communities
Such models align with broader global trends toward circular economies, where materials are continuously repurposed rather than discarded.
An Opportunity to Build Differently
Unlike more mature markets, where infrastructure systems are deeply entrenched, many African economies are still in the process of building and scaling their energy and waste management frameworks.
This presents a unique advantage.
Rather than retrofitting outdated systems, there is an opportunity to design solutions that are:
- Decentralised
- Resource-efficient
- Adapted to local conditions
Waste-to-energy sits at the intersection of these priorities.
If implemented effectively, it has the potential to:
- Reduce environmental pressure
- Improve energy access
- Enable new forms of entrepreneurship and job creation
As urban populations grow and demand for both clean environments and reliable energy increases, the pressure to find sustainable solutions will intensify.
Waste-to-energy is unlikely to be a single, universal answer.
But it represents a compelling part of the broader solution set, one that transforms an existing problem into a potential resource.
For a continent defined by both its challenges and its ability to innovate within them, that shift in perspective may prove to be one of the most important developments in the years ahead.
As Chief Marketing Officer at Fio Capital, Juran van den Heever combines a PhD in Communication Management with over a decade of brand-building experience to deliver growth strategies that drive both profit and positive change.
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