Consider the cost-revenue mismatch in the waste economy

From the newsletter

Africa’s waste crisis is placing growing pressure on systems already struggling to finance universal collection and management. A new Greenpeace report on North Africa finds that revenues from recovered plastic are insufficient to cover the costs of recovery, exposing an imbalance between the cost of managing waste and the revenue generated from recovered materials. 

• The World Bank estimates that universal waste collection in middle-income countries requires about 0.3–0.5% of GDP a year, while reported public spending is below 0.15% in most low- and middle-income countries.

• The revenue gap limits authorities’ ability to manage waste effectively, contributing to growing volumes of unmanaged waste. Closing the gap will require new approaches to financing, from stronger producer contributions to public, development and private capital. 

More details