The changing economics of managing chemical waste

October 14, 2026

Dear subscriber,

I have never met a young, ambitious person who dreams of a career in chemical waste. But the sector certainly needs the talent. As Africa builds its industrial base, the chemical waste generated presents a growing management challenge. Specialised treatment facilities and technical expertise remain costly, creating a difficult balance between the need for safe disposal and the commercial realities of providing it.

Mercy Maina – Editor

As industrial activity across Africa expands, the capacity to manage chemical waste will need to grow alongside it. The region’s manufacturing value added rose from $285 billion in 2020 to $351 billion in 2025, according to the African Development Bank. Long-term UN projections suggest strong further growth over the coming decades.

  • The Global Framework on Chemicals Fund has just approved $5.4 million for nine projects across 13 countries, including initiatives in Ghana and Nigeria, to strengthen chemicals and waste management. 

  • UNEP describes the safe management of chemicals and hazardous waste as a “major challenge” in Africa, leaving room for specialised waste management businesses to address gaps.

  • Our take: Export-oriented manufacturers may be more reliable customers than companies serving less-regulated domestic markets, because they face stricter environmental standards and greater pressure to demonstrate compliance… Read more (2 min)

Since June, new technologies have emerged to tackle waste management challenges, from bacteria that break down difficult plastics to systems that recover value from discarded materials. Circular Rising examines five innovations introduced across international markets, and considers their potential applications in Africa.

  • Waste recovery and recycling account for three of the five innovations, with a strong focus on finding new ways to process difficult-to-recycle plastics and recover value from discarded materials. 

  • Two of the five technologies were developed by university researchers, while the other three were introduced by private companies working in the circular economy.

  • Our take: Technologies that address specific gaps in existing systems and fit local operating conditions are more likely to find practical applications… Read more (2 min)

Circular Rising has compiled a list of 41 recent circular economy-related job openings across Africa. Southern Africa accounts for the majority, with 20 vacancies, representing 49% of the total. Roles were selected based on their direct connection to circular economy or waste-related activities, either through the employer’s work or the nature of the position.

  • Waste management and environmental engineering feature prominently, with vacancies spanning waste operations, mine waste, tailings management and land remediation.

  • UNDP stands out as the largest single recruiter, with four vacancies for its Samsung Mobile Circularity Innovation Lab in Sierra Leone.

  • Apply for these roles here (2 min) 

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Source: Togo First

A garbage truck, among equipment donated to Togo by German city Nuremberg

Events

🪪 Network at WasteCon 2026 in South Africa (Oct 20)

♻️ Learn how to unlock circular value chain for energy transition  (virtual) (Oct 21)

🤝 Participate in the African Biochar Alliance Summit in Zambia (Oct 27)

✍️ Register for the Biomass Briquettes & Bioenergy Conference in Kenya (Oct 29)

📅 Attend the 2nd Annual ESG & Climate Africa Summit in Kenya (Nov 24)

Various 

🚝 Demand for EVs to drive growth of the global nickel-rich battery waste market 

✍️ Apply for CirculaRise Accelerator Kenya programme

💹 Global waste-to-energy market to reach $58.8 billion by 2036 

🍾 How recycling bottle tops is funding surgeries and wheelchairs across S. Africa 

💦 Guinea caps bottled water prices after sachets banned 

💊 Ghana's rivers, hospitals and landfills are steeped in antibiotic 

🖥️ The refurbished IT revolution has already started

🛞 Unisa professor turns tyres into shoe polish and other useful materials  

Seen on LinkedIn 

Njoki Kamau Mbugua, Founder and CEO of Ardena Consulting, says, “E-waste sits at the intersection of technology, climate, public health, livelihoods and regulation. The opportunity is to build systems that are safer, more circular and inclusive, while recognising the realities of existing informal value chains.”