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- Recycled plastics could pave Africa’s path to climate-resilient roads
Recycled plastics could pave Africa’s path to climate-resilient roads
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 | The African Development Bank (AfDB) has signed an agreement with a Japanese consortium for the deployment of recycled plastic technology in road construction and maintenance across Africa. The PET Asphalt Concrete has been under testing in Kenya since May and is set to be deployed in other African countries. |
African roads are highly climate-vulnerable owing to the use of conventional asphalt concrete which often buckles under extreme weather conditions.
The new PET Asphalt Concrete technology offers greater resistance to heat and heavy rainfall, extending road lifespans and reducing maintenance costs.
Our take: The innovation could help address the continent’s rising plastic waste burden, which could be used as a raw material for the technology… Read more (2 min)
 | Waste management and recycling sectors are leading in circular economy hiring across Africa, accounting for 8 of the 24 advertised roles. All vacancies are senior-level positions, spanning plastic recycling as well as specialised streams such as e-waste, wastewater and hazardous chemical waste management. |
Eastern and Southern Africa dominate the hiring, each accounting for 8 open roles.
The UN stands out as the single largest employer, accounting for six of the 24 roles across UNOPS, UNEP, UN-Habitat and ITU.
Job board: Explore the latest openings across Africa’s hydrogen sector here (2 min)
 | Africa’s waste management sector recorded split growth over the past year, marked by extremes of rapid expansion and slower performance. LinkedIn data analysed by Circular Rising shows that smaller players expanded quickly, posting some of the highest growth rates in the industry, while established multinationals slowed. |
South Africa-based Enviroserv and North American company Waste Management Inc. were the fastest-growing firms, recording 136% and 68% growth respectively in senior staff numbers.
By contrast, despite their extensive multi-country presence, Veolia, Averda and Suez lagged behind, posting only modest workforce growth of 4%, 6% and 10% respectively.
Our take: The faster growth of smaller players signals a power shift in Africa’s waste sector..…Read more (2 min)
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Participants at waste conference in Ghana visiting a plastic recycling facility
Events
🗓️ Attend the Plastics Recycling Show Middle East & Africa in Dubai (September 15)
🗓️ Network at the Africa International E-Waste Conference in Kenya (October 16)
🗓️ Participate in the Nature and Circularity Week in South Africa (October 20)
🗓️ Sign up for the South Africa Circular Summit (October 23)
Various
⛱️ Ghana hosts international solid waste conference
💉 Uganda’s Masaka City grappling with poor disposal of medical waste
🤝 Kenya and DRC join Africa Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA)
📜 South Africa launches the first national Circular Economy Knowledge Survey
Seen on LinkedIn
John Marvin Ayara Otieno, Coordinator of EPROK, says, “As Kenya looks to the future, second-life EV batteries are key to a sustainable energy transition. This calls for collaboration, policy, and a circular economy roadmap.”