Zoomlion Ghana expands rapidly in both scale and speed

From the newsletter

Zoomlion Ghana is rapidly expanding in both scale and speed, growing its workforce by 38% over the past 12 months. According to LinkedIn data analysed by Circular Rising, the waste management company added 62 employees, bringing its senior staff headcount to 225, highlighting momentum in Africa’s circular economy.

• Zoomlion’s growth follows a similarly strong trend seen in a 12-month analysis ending in March, during which its workforce expanded by 39% to 210 employees—an increase of 59 staff.

• The company also recorded the highest growth in its sales and business development team—up 58%—by adding 30 employees to reach a total of 82, matching the same headcount gain as in March, when the team grew by 67% from a smaller base.

More details

• Zoomlion Ghana, a Ghanaian-owned enterprise, specializes in comprehensive waste management solutions—including collection, recycling, and disposal—and currently operates in 10 other African countries.

• Its rapid expansion across the continent appears driven by growing demand in urban centers and strategic entry into under-served markets such as Togo, Liberia, and Equatorial Guinea. These markets offer low competition, enabling swift entry and potential dominance. Zoomlion’s integrated service model further supports scalable growth, making it a standout in the sector.

• Among other key players, Waste Management Inc. recorded the fastest workforce growth at 86.4%, despite maintaining a relatively small headcount of 41 employees. This signals aggressive scaling from a low base, though the pace has slowed from the 110.3% growth observed in the last analysis in March.

• In contrast, Suez added the highest number of new employees—88—to reach a total workforce of 865. However, this translates to a modest 11.3% growth rate, highlighting a company operating at scale but expanding more slowly in relative terms.

• Averda demonstrated modest growth with a 5.5% increase in workforce and minimal gains in sales and business development, suggesting it may be in a stable or mature phase. Its growth rate dipped from 7.2% in the previous period. Nevertheless, the company expanded its regional footprint from 5 to 7 countries, signaling continued geographic ambitions even if headcount growth lags.

• On the other end of the spectrum, Europe-based Geocycle experienced a notable contraction. Its workforce declined by 17.9%—losing 5 employees—while its sales and business development team shrank by 28.6%, shedding 2 staff members. This decline contrasts sharply with the broader industry trend and may point to operational setbacks, restructuring, or a shift in strategic focus within Africa.

• Meanwhile, Veolia stands out for workforce quality. The French firm boasts the highest average staff experience at 14.3 years and the longest average tenure at 8.1 years. It also expanded its operations from 14 to 16 countries, reinforcing its regional leadership.

• Enviroserve, however, faced internal challenges, with a 50.0% reduction in senior employees and a sharp drop in average experience—from 18.6 to 7.0 years—indicating considerable turnover or possible organizational restructuring.

Our take

• Zoomlion’s simultaneous growth in both workforce and sales teams signals its positioning as a leading waste management brand, and hints at broader ambitions for continental dominance.

• Geocycle’s sharp contraction is alarming—it suggests deeper operational troubles or a strategic retreat at a time when most competitors are doubling down on Africa’s circular economy opportunity.

• Waste Management Inc.’s rapid scaling, despite a small base, signals a nimble, high-growth model that could disrupt slower, established players—if sustained and backed by strategic investment.