New report says wastepicker livelihoods are threatened

• Though focused on Kenya’s Dandora dumpsite, the study highlights challenges faced by many thousand wastepickers across Africa who earn a living from waste while forming the backbone of waste management. 

• As waste management policies and the transition toward a circular economy take shape across the continent, new measures like segregation at source and extended producer responsibility (EPR) reduce valuables at dumpsites, threatening wastepickers’ livelihoods continent-wide.

• Our take: Inclusion is not optional—it’s central to building resilient circular systems.… Read more (2 min)

Funding tracker: Circular economy investments drop in May

• May continued the trend of supporting technology and innovation seen in previous months but marked a clear shift toward smaller-scale, community-focused projects. Whereas earlier investments prioritised large infrastructure and government-backed programs.

• May’s funding emphasised grassroots initiatives like Appcyclers, which leverage technology alongside local engagement to address waste management at the community level.

• Our take: May’s funding drop is alarming for a continent already grappling with mounting waste in its fast-growing cities… Read more (2 min)

Africa’s plastic waste bans struggle with enforcement reality

• Single-use plastics are widely used across Africa due to convenience and low cost. However, they cause severe pollution due to their non-biodegradability and persistent environmental harm.

• Several countries on the continent have shown commitment to reducing plastic use through bans and policies. However, weak enforcement remains a major obstacle to meaningful and lasting impact.

• Our take: For plastic bans to work in Africa, governments must move beyond legislation and invest in enforcement. Without this, bans risk becoming symbolic gestures rather than solutions to the continent’s growing plastic pollution crisis.…Read more (2 min)

____________________