Waste Management

Infra Law advises clients across Africa on the development of solid waste management projects that are environmentally compliant, commercially viable, and aligned with the service delivery mandates of municipalities and local governments. Solid waste management is a sector where public-private partnerships are increasingly essential, enabling local authorities to access the technology, financing, and operational expertise required to modernise waste services.

Most solid waste projects are structured as PPPs, with municipalities at the centre of service provision. We help clients navigate the full lifecycle of these projects—from early-stage feasibility and procurement strategy to risk allocation, licensing, contracting, and long-term performance management. Our work ensures that projects are structured to meet stringent environmental and operational standards while remaining affordable for end-users and sustainable for the public sector.

Environmental compliance is a defining feature of the sector. Solid waste projects require a suite of licences and approvals to ensure that waste collection, processing, treatment, and disposal meet national environmental standards. We support clients in securing these approvals, designing compliance-driven contractual frameworks, and embedding environmental safeguards into project governance.

We also understand the commercial realities that shape solid waste management. Technologies such as waste incineration can significantly increase project costs, placing pressure on municipal budgets. As a result, many local governments turn to hybrid revenue models to improve affordability. Waste-to-energy is one of the most effective approaches, where the cost of waste management services is cross-subsidised by the sale of electricity to local offtakers—including the municipality itself. Infra Law advises on the structuring, regulatory considerations, and commercial arrangements that underpin these models, ensuring that projects remain bankable while delivering essential public services.

A sample of our experience includes:

• Advised the Gauteng Infrastructure Financing Agency on the development of a template municipal waste-to-energy PPP agreement for Alternative Waste Treatment Technologies across South African municipalities.
• Advising a private developer on the regulatory and legal aspects of procuring garden waste and other green feedstock from Pikitup (a municipal entity responsible for waste collection) to support its waste-to-energy solution for commercial offtakers

Across every mandate, our focus is the same: helping clients deliver solid waste management solutions that are environmentally sound, financially resilient, and capable of meeting the growing demands of urban communities across Africa.