A new citizen-led study has revealed alarmingly high levels of air pollution in communities hosting waste incineration facilities in Nigeria, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
According to the report, particulate matter (PM) concentrations in these communities were found to be up to eight times higher than the World Health Organisation (WHO) safety guidelines.
The findings were disclosed in a statement issued by Carissa Marnce, Africa Communications Coordinator for the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), and made available on Thursday in Lagos.
The study covered Ogijo in Nigeria, Dumaguete in the Philippines, and Surabaya in Indonesia. It was launched in response to what researchers describe as a lack of government oversight and environmental regulation of incineration facilities in these regions.
Local communities are now demanding stricter environmental controls, greater transparency, and in some cases, the complete shutdown of these plants.
“People are coughing, struggling to breathe, and living in fear of what they can’t see but can certainly feel. This is not just unfair—it is dangerous,” said Wahyu Styawan of WALHI East Java, Indonesia.
The study was coordinated by GAIA member organisations: War on Waste (Philippines), Green Knowledge Foundation (Nigeria), and WALHI (Indonesia). Researchers used both stationary and portable air monitors to track levels of PM2.5 and PM10—tiny airborne particles linked to serious health issues.
Key Findings:
- In Dumaguete, Philippines, PM2.5 levels reached up to seven times the WHO safe limit, with 88% of readings classified as unhealthy. The report estimates that 179 premature deaths could be prevented annually if the facility there were shut down.
- In Surabaya, Indonesia, near the Benowo Waste-to-Energy plant, PM2.5 levels exceeded WHO guidelines by 100% during a 31-day monitoring period. Pollution peaked at eight times the safe level, with no day of the study showing healthy air.
- In Ogijo, Nigeria, near the Tec High Profile Nig. Ltd. tyre recycling site, PM2.5 concentrations were five times higher than WHO guidelines during a 23-day monitoring period.
The WHO classifies PM2.5 as a carcinogen due to its microscopic size, which allows it to penetrate deep into human lungs and bloodstream, increasing the risk of asthma, bronchitis, COPD, and cancer.
Most monitoring took place near vulnerable locations such as schools, elderly care homes, markets, and farms, posing immediate health risks to children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions.
Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, a scientist supporting the project, said the findings offer “undeniable evidence of toxic exposure” and called for urgent regulatory action.
The report also questioned the role of international development banks, such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, in funding waste-to-energy projects in developing countries despite known health and environmental risks.
Weyinmi Okotie, GAIA’s African Clean Air Programme Manager and Executive Director of the Green Knowledge Foundation, urged climate financiers to stop supporting “false solutions.”
“Instead, they should invest in sustainable alternatives that create jobs, restore ecosystems, and protect community health,” Okotie said.
