Waste to Energy: Developing Countries’ Perspective

Abstract

About 4.2 million tons of solid waste is generated daily from urban centres in developing countries, most of which are disposed in open dumps and uncontrolled landfills. These wastes are composed of renewable energy materials with energy value of about 9.87 x 109 kWh/day. Capturing the energy embedded in these wastes is one of the sustainable ways of reducing the quantity of wastes to be landfilled while producing electricity, heat and fuel to meet basic needs. Investment in Waste to Energy (WTE) sector has increased over the years in developed countries, and its applicability to developing economies has been hampered by several constraints such as lack of records of waste quantity and composition, low calorific heating value, financial incapability, unsupportive local policies, and technological know-how and adaptability. For a start, there is need to conduct feasibility studies, upgrade the predominant open dumps in developing countries to sanitary landfills and later seek financial and technical assistance. Establishment of a vibrant WTE market in developing countries will have enormous social, economic and environmental benefits.