Waste-to-energy technologies and biogas capture

Why it matters

Waste-to-energy (WtE) and biogas capture technologies offer integrated solutions to the mounting challenges of urban waste, energy demand, and climate resilience. WtE systems convert non-recyclable municipal solid waste into electricity or heat through incineration, gasification, or pyrolysis, significantly reducing landfill volumes and recovering energy from discarded materials. Modern WtE plants are equipped with flue gas treatment systems to minimize air pollutants and comply with global environmental standards. Biogas capture, meanwhile, targets organic waste—such as food scraps, agricultural residues, and sewage sludge—using anaerobic digestion to produce methane-rich biogas and nutrient-rich digestate. The biogas can be used for cooking, heating, or electricity generation, or upgraded to BioCNG for transport fuel, while the digestate serves as an organic fertilizer, enhancing soil health and reducing chemical inputs.

These technologies are highly relevant in regions facing rapid urbanization, limited landfill capacity, and rising energy needs. They reduce greenhouse gas emissions, displace fossil fuels, and promote circularity by transforming waste into valuable resources. Economically, they create green jobs and attract climate finance, while institutionally, they support regulatory reform and infrastructure modernization. Aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and SDGs, WtE and biogas systems offer scalable, adaptable models for sustainable development. When integrated into national strategies and donor programs, they enable data-driven decision-making, support circularity scoring, and foster cross-country replication. Together, they represent not just technical fixes, but systemic enablers of clean energy, environmental protection, and urban resilience.