More than
one-third of the world’s solid waste is not properly managed, according to the
World Bank. This mismanagement has serious environmental consequences. Poorly
handled waste contributes to air and water pollution, spreads disease, causes
urban flooding, is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, and leads to the
loss of material value and resources, according to the C40 Cities network.
José Roque
(El Salvador, 32) has developed a solution that not only improves waste
management but also reduces emissions compared to traditional methods. His
initiative, Waste to Energy, produces clean energy by converting organic waste
into gas using advanced pyrolysis technology.
This
process breaks down biomass and turns waste into gas, a system that
“significantly reduces the volume of garbage ending up in landfills, lowers
environmental pollution and greenhouse gases, and generates clean energy that
can be used locally.”
“We
estimate that, initially, this could benefit local communities, agricultural
industries, and municipalities looking to manage their waste more sustainably
and take advantage of renewable energy. In terms of employment, it impacts more
than 50 people directly and over 150 indirectly,” the entrepreneur calculates.
Roque holds
a degree in International Relations from Francisco Gavidia University in El
Salvador, but his curiosity and commitment to protecting the planet led him to
change his professional path. He recalls being just nine years old when, while
waiting at a bus stop in Geneva, Switzerland, he became fascinated watching “a
garbage truck lifting containers with its hydraulic arms.” He was so
captivated, he missed the bus, he remembers with a smile.
“Traditionally,
waste management has been a challenge due to the lack of accessible and
efficient technologies to convert waste into useful resources. Conventional
disposal methods are expensive, energy-intensive, and major contributors to
greenhouse gas emissions,” he explains.
That’s why
Roque is confident that Waste to Energy “will
significantly reduce environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by
transforming waste into valuable resources like clean energy. This will not
only improve local air and water quality, but also create new job opportunities
in the waste management and renewable energy sectors, promoting sustainable
economic development and improving the quality of life for affected
communities.”
Looking
ahead, this innovator plans to build a plant in El Salvador to generate energy
from waste. “I hope to
expand recycling capacity, reduce waste volume even further, maximize material
reintegration into the value chain, and create more jobs.”
The
International Labour Organization (ILO) predicts that the number of people
working in waste collection and management will continue to grow in the coming
years, as it has already. The institution adds that beyond benefiting the
environment, this industry also represents a valuable economic resource for
local communities.
Roque, who
now leads a team of more than 50 people, is one of MIT Technology Review in Spanish 35 Innovators Under 35. Through his project, he has successfully
built bridges between private companies and public institutions, encouraging
collaboration in the ecological transition his initiative aims to accelerate.
