Ethiopia’s Reppie waste-to-energy plant falling short of targets – GAIA report

ETHIOPIA – Ethiopia’s flagship Reppie waste-to-energy facility, once promoted as a transformative solution to Addis Ababa’s mounting waste crisis, is failing to meet its operational, economic and environmental goals, according to a new report by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA).

Commissioned in 2018, the US$120 million plant was designed to process 1,400 tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) per day and divert waste from the overstretched Koshe landfill, which in 2017 suffered a deadly landslide that claimed 116 lives.

However, GAIA’s findings show the facility processes only 396 to 650 tonnes daily, less than half its intended capacity, leaving nearly 3,000 tonnes of waste still headed to Koshe each day.

The reduced throughput has significantly cut electricity generation, with the plant producing just 92.8 GWh annually instead of the projected 185.6 GWh.

GAIA attributes this underperformance to a mismatch between Ethiopia’s waste profile and the imported technology.

“The underperformance of the Reppie facility highlights a major mismatch between imported incineration technology and Ethiopia’s waste composition, which is mainly organic and wet, like much of Africa’s,” said Weyinmi Okotie, Clean Air Program Manager at GAIA Africa.

Low-calorific, high-moisture waste limits combustion efficiency, forcing the plant to rely on auxiliary fuel and diminishing energy recovery, he added.

The report also raises concerns over emissions, toxic ash handling and community impacts.

The facility generates an estimated 85 metric tonnes of toxic ash daily, yet GAIA says no clear public plan exists for its safe disposal.

Nearby communities have reported respiratory problems, skin irritation and odours, symptoms that Okotie says reflect weak regulatory oversight and limited independent monitoring.

GAIA is calling for urgent biomonitoring to assess potential exposure to heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants.

Social impacts are also significant. Informal waste pickers, long central to Addis Ababa’s recycling ecosystem, have seen incomes drop by 50% as the incinerator competes for the same materials.

Despite initial promises of 8,000 new jobs, the report says these opportunities did not materialize for local communities.

“This income loss highlights a systemic failure to recognize and include the informal sector, which has been crucial for recycling and resource recovery,” Okotie said.

The Reppie experience, GAIA argues, reflects broader challenges in African cities where rising waste volumes, inadequate collection, and low segregation complicate adoption of high-tech incineration models.

The report calls for investment in decentralized, zero-waste solutions, such as composting, recycling hubs and stronger environmental governance, alongside inclusive strategies that protect waste pickers and support circular economy development.

Reppie’s struggles, GAIA concludes, underscore the need for locally tailored, socially inclusive waste management approaches across Africa.

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