Community-Centric Waste-to-Energy Infrastructures

At the 2019 Design Indaba, South African urban architect Nicole Moyo presents a concept that utilizes a waste-to-energy infrastructure to support independent growth and prosperity in slum communities. The project, dubbed 'Ukubutha,' manifests itself through an accumulation of domes. Each is equipped with toilets and anaerobic digesters that can collect methane. Biogas from human waste is collected within these structures and it is later converted into energy, as well as fertilizer for the benefit of the local community.

The waste-to-energy infrastructure is an ambitious concept that seeks to aid low-income settlements while paying attention to the state of the environment. The domes are meant to be easily maintained by the local community and will definitely allow for the people to be self-sufficient.