Circular opportunities in Nigeria: Turning aerosol waste into clean cooking fuel
Last checked on: 21 May 2026
Mike MacKay is managing director and co-founder of Despray Environmental. He believes that innovation can turn a hazardous waste problem into a life-changing resource. His company's 'Food for Fuel' project in Nigeria aims to take the gas from discarded aerosol cans and repurpose it as a cleaner cooking fuel for local homes.
A hidden environmental hazard
Aerosol cans are a major environmental issue that often goes unnoticed. Every year, companies produce around 16 billion aerosol cans worldwide, with an estimated 500 million cans bought and used in Nigeria alone. Most cans end up in landfills or are put into shredders, which can cause dangerous explosions or fires. Mike illustrates the scale of the problem by comparing it to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
"The spill lasted 8 months, and it shocked the world as one of the biggest environmental hazards of all time," he says. "The amount of aerosols that are not recycled is bigger than that disaster, and continues to grow by about 3% per year."
A cleaner alternative
In 2018, having already sold aerosol can recycling platforms in Europe and Canada, Mike had a new idea while reading about the health crisis in Africa caused by dirty cooking fuels like wood and coal. Millions of people, particularly women, suffer from respiratory illnesses because they burn these fuels indoors. Mike realised that the captured propellants from aerosol cans could offer a much cleaner alternative.
In high-income countries, as much as 30% of these gases remains in aerosol cans when they are thrown away. Mike estimates that this figure is closer to 8 percent in the African market. That still leaves enough waste gas and liquid to create a valuable resource. "If all cans were collected and recycled, as much as 10% of the cooking fuel could be replaced by what I like to call the food fuel from aerosol cans," he says.
Partnerships for progress
The project in Nigeria relies on strong local and international partnerships. In late 2025, Despray partnered with FREEE Recycle, a Nigeria-based company that will operate the recycling machinery. Despray is also planning to work with Rural Women in Energy Security (RUWES), an organisation that empowers women working in recycling.
"RUWES were ecstatic about taking on the food fuel project. With their involvement, 2 million women can collect aerosols that would otherwise have ended up in a landfill," Mike says.
This partnership supports a circular system. Women earn a living collecting the cans, preventing them from polluting the land. The cans then also provide a source of clean fuel for the workers' own homes.
Technical breakthrough and safety
Despray's container-sized recycling system can process up to 10 million cans per year. The company claims that this technology ensures that 100% of the metal, liquids and gases are recovered. A major breakthrough was Despray's development of patented gas purification technology. This system cleans the recovered gases so they meet safety standards for household use. Before this innovation, it was very difficult to recycle waste gases from aerosol cans.
Safety is essential when dealing with explosive gases. From their headquarters in Almelo, the Netherlands, the Despray team uses advanced computer systems to monitor every machine in operation. They can check pressures and temperatures in real time, allowing them to help local operators remotely.
Making the business model work
While the technology is ready, making the project financially sustainable in low- and middle-income countries is a challenge. Mike explains that just selling the recycled metals is not profitable enough. To solve this, Mike is calling for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
EPR is a regulation that makes manufacturers of products like aluminium cans responsible for the entire life cycle of their packaging. This could mean a small environmental tax on every imported can. These taxes are then used to pay for the recycling process.
EPR systems are already widely used in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, India, and other countries to help pay for waste collection and recycling systems. Mike is working with the Nigerian Ministry of Environment to show how this regulation can fund a cleaner future in Nigeria, too.
The role of RVO and Dutch support
The support of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the Netherlands Consulate in Lagos has been vital for the project. Mike says that government backing offers credibility when speaking to high-level officials, such as the Nigerian Minister of Environment.
Mike’s 4 tips for circular entrepreneurs
For Dutch companies looking to bring their circular solution to developing markets, Mike offers this advice:
- Connect with Holland Circular Hotspot: This is a Dutch organisation that helps companies go international. Mike highly recommends them as an important partner that connects parties and provides insights into circular economies worldwide.
- Get government backing: Working with RVO gives your project the credibility needed to reach decision-makers.
- Prove it works: Focus on a proof of concept or small-scale prototype first. It is much easier to get an investment once you have shown that the technology works in practice.
- Push for fair regulations: Do not be afraid to advocate for policies like EPR. Regulations ensure that the people creating waste help pay for its cleanup.
Looking ahead
Mike hopes to launch the full-scale pilot project this year. But he is also looking further ahead. He believes that once the Nigerian model proves successful, he can expand it to other countries with similar challenges, such as India or other African markets.
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