2025
AI Action Summit

Extracting carbon from landfill waste

University of Nairobi
Africa
2025

Project Summary

The project uses AI to predict carbon resources in landfills for renewable energy storage. After determination of the type and characteristics of data needed for the AI prediction model, it conducts field data gathering and cleaning in Nairobi and Lagos, and training predictive algorithms to determine landfill carbon potential. Predictions are validated and optimized through comparison with laboratory results and constitutes landfill dataset as test benchmark for machine learning models. This initiative provides a unique tool and dataset needed by African over-populated cities with significant portion of municipal waste in dumpsites, hindering their infrastructural development and exacerbating environmental issues. The study also aligns with Africa's need for renewable energy. By converting landfill carbon into super-capacitors, the project contributes to sustainable energy storage.

 

 

Presentation of the organization

University of Nairobi is the oldest University in Kenya and the top in the region. It has ten faculties, with Faculty of Engineering being among the oldest faculties.

The Faculty of Engineering is the premier Engineering Institution in Kenya and the region and it is known for excellence in Engineering Education since 1956. 

The Faculty of Engineering has grown to a student enrollment of over 3,000 spread across five departments.