A new report by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) has warned that burning waste to generate electricity across Africa could worsen environmental pollution, threaten public health and impose significant financial burdens on governments.
The 2026 report, titled Africa’s Waste Crisis Is Attracting the Wrong Solution, examined 15 waste-to-energy incineration projects and proposals across 10 African countries, including Nigeria. It found that the projects represent a combined investment of more than $4 billion.
According to the report, only 55 percent of municipal waste generated across Africa is collected, while just four percent is recycled. These challenges have prompted some governments to consider waste-to-energy incineration as a solution to growing waste volumes and electricity shortages.
However, GAIA argued that much of Africa’s waste consists of food scraps and other organic materials with high moisture content, making them unsuitable for efficient combustion. The organisation warned that waste incineration facilities could release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, posing risks to human health and the environment.
The report also raised concerns about the impact of such facilities on informal waste collectors who depend on recyclable materials for their livelihoods. It cited the Reppie incineration plant in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where some waste pickers reported a 50 percent decline in earnings following the facility’s operations. In Nigeria, the report identified a proposed waste-to-energy project in Epe, Lagos State, among the initiatives examined.
GAIA called on African governments to suspend new waste-incineration agreements until independent assessments have been conducted to establish their environmental, economic and social implications. It urged governments to prioritise waste separation, recycling and composting as more sustainable alternatives.