Climate Change Adaptation: Opportunities for Increased Material Recycling Facilities in African Cities

Abstract

Africa’s urban morphology is expected to develop at a steady rate between 2020 and 2050. Population growth, rising urbanization rates, growing energy consumption, and industrialization are only a few of the reasons causing these changes. Likewise, waste production is projected to rise from 125 million tons in 2012 to 244 million tons annually by 2025. Around 60.0% and 80.0% of African waste is made up of organic material, which is a viable methane source. Fly tipping, free disposal, landfilling, and incineration have been used as a large-scale waste treatment system in most African cities. However, with the anticipated morphological changes, these solutions are no longer viable in the future due to lack of airspace, availability of urban land for new landfill sites, and concerns over carbon emissions. This chapter discusses the potential for improved adoption of material recycling facilities (MRF) in urban environments as an incentive to support waste diversion from landfills, decentralize waste separation activities, and increase the transformation of waste materials into valuable raw materials. A case study is discussed for Ethiopia, Ghana, and South Africa with the goal of explaining current processes, urban planning initiatives required for greater implementation, and how they can be interpreted as adaptation initiatives.