Project tracker: West Africa leads in circular waste solutions

From the newsletter

West African nations are emerging as circular economy hubs with high impact waste management projects. Our analysis shows the region leads with three of eight major projects this quarter. Among them is possibly Africa’s biggest waste challenge, as Lagos plans to establish 34 plastic waste hubs.

• Sierra Leone has unveiled a waste-to-energy project set to power 3.3 million people by converting 365,000 tonnes of waste into 236.5 GWh of electricity annually, reducing 94,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. 

• Meanwhile, Ghana has launched a $7 million, five-year project aimed at scaling SME-driven plastic recycling, with targets to recover 93,000 tonnes of plastic, prevent 12,000 tonnes of marine litter, and create 10,000+ jobs.

More details

• North Africa follows with two projects, both in Egypt, linked to circular economy initiatives that received significant investment following French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit to the country. One of the projects involves  the upgrading of the East Alexandria Treatment Plant, which is set to provide water to 1.5 million people, processing 300,000 cubic meters of water per day. The first phase is scheduled to be completed by 2032. 

• The other project will expand the Yellow Mountain Wastewater Treatment Plant in Cairo, which will improve Egypt’s water treatment capacity to meet growing demand, helping to address both the volume and environmental sustainability of wastewater management in the country.

• Southern Africa is represented by South Africa's e-waste recycling pilot project in Limpopo Province, which aims to involve local communities in waste management. Through financial rewards and other incentives, the initiative encourages residents of the Thulamela Local Municipality to collect and recycle electronic waste, fostering grassroots participation in sustainable disposal practices while raising awareness of the importance of responsible e-waste management.

• In East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda are all involved in the EU-funded climate-resilient urban development projects, which focus on among other things, addressing urban waste management issues such as solid waste and faecal sludge management. Targeting six cities in Kenya, one in Tanzania, and one in Uganda, the projects also include waste-to-energy initiatives like biogas production and wastewater treatment. 

• Lastly, in Central Africa, Rwanda has launched the Urumuri Initiative, aimed at improving the business capacity of 135 recycling startups. The initiative will provide training, technical assistance, and interest-free loans to support the development of the circular economy in Rwanda, particularly in plastic recycling. Backed by GIZ Rwanda and the BK Foundation, the project seeks to foster innovation and sustainability within the country's waste management sector.

Our take

• West Africa’s leadership in circular economy projects underscores its growing role in sustainable innovation, with ambitious waste management initiatives driving both environmental and economic progress.

• The broad spectrum of these initiatives reflects the complexity of Africa’s waste management challenge, with each project addressing unique local issues, from plastic recycling in West Africa to wastewater solutions in North Africa, showing that a one-size-fits-all approach won’t suffice.

• The growing emphasis on SME-driven solutions marks a shift from the traditional focus on large multinational waste companies to often-sidelined SMEs. This change recognises the vital role small businesses play in driving innovation and providing localised solutions to Africa’s waste challenges.