…We borrow it from our children
An African aptly says that “When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.” This is especially true when it comes to reflecting on the importance of building strong waste management systems in Africa—if the foundation is solid, the continent can withstand future environmental pressures.
But this is not the case, particularly on the continent as, Africa is still recycling only 4% of its municipal solid waste. This figure, originally highlighted in the Africa Waste Management Outlook (AWMO) released in 2018 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), was a projection meant to spur decisive action ahead of 2025. Now that 2025 is here, it is evident that not much has changed. The 4% recycling rate remains alarmingly low and continues to contrast sharply with the African Union’s vision that cities across Africa would be recycling at least 50% of their waste by 2023.
This startling data is grim, particularly while reflecting on the fact that, as a Native American proverb captures, “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” Indeed, what was once a forward-looking projection has become a grim reflection of the present. The recycling gap is no longer a looming threat—it is today’s reality. It represents not only an environmental hazard but also a missed economic opportunity, a public health crisis, and a failure to evolve critical infrastructure in line with rapid urban development.
The Africa Waste Management Outlook, developed by a host of regional experts and institutions, offered an evidence-based analysis of waste generation, collection, disposal, and potential solutions. Its findings provided a sobering view of how much progress was needed. Seven years later, it appears the outlook remains largely the same—if not more urgent.
The Growing Mountain of Waste
In 2012, African countries collectively generated 125 million tonnes of municipal solid waste. By 2025, this figure was projected to double. This dramatic increase has been driven primarily by population growth, urbanization, and changing consumption patterns as countries experience rising levels of income and industrial activity. What makes this trend particularly alarming is that waste generation in Africa has grown so rapidly that even significant reductions in waste volumes in other global regions have been eclipsed by Africa’s sheer numbers.
The growth in waste generation is not necessarily a problem in itself; rather, the issue is that waste management infrastructure in Africa has not kept pace. Basic systems such as household waste collection, proper sorting facilities, treatment options, and controlled disposal mechanisms remain inadequate or non-existent in many cities and towns across the continent. The average collection rate for municipal solid waste in Africa is only 55%, which means that nearly half of the waste produced is left unattended in open environments. This absence of reliable collection is most acute in informal settlements, peri-urban areas, and rural communities, where limited infrastructure meets expanding populations.
The Reign of Dumpsites
Inadequate collection is only the beginning of the problem. The waste that is collected is often disposed of in ways that compound environmental damage. Over 90% of all municipal waste in Africa ends up in uncontrolled dumpsites or poorly managed landfills. These open-air dumps pose significant health risks to nearby residents, particularly children, the elderly, and the urban poor, who are most exposed to pollutants and unsanitary conditions.
Across the globe, some of the largest and most dangerous dumpsites are found on the African continent. Nineteen of the fifty biggest dumpsites in the world are located in Sub-Saharan Africa. These sites are often in close proximity to human settlements, lack basic containment or treatment infrastructure, and are commonly subjected to open burning as a means of volume reduction. Open burning, in turn, releases toxic chemicals into the air, including dioxins, furans, and other pollutants that are harmful to respiratory health and contribute to climate change.
What is particularly disheartening is that such dumping grounds remain the dominant waste disposal option despite widespread recognition of their dangers. Efforts to upgrade or close these dumpsites have been sporadic and poorly coordinated. In many instances, waste management has simply not kept up with the pace of urban growth, resulting in haphazard disposal practices that threaten ecosystems, water bodies, and public health systems.
The Composition of Waste in Africa
A closer look at the waste being generated across Africa reveals both the depth of the problem and the potential for meaningful change. On average, 13% of Africa’s municipal solid waste is composed of plastics—a material that is notoriously difficult to degrade and one of the most visible indicators of environmental pollution. Plastic waste clogs drainage systems, pollutes waterways, and poses ingestion and entanglement hazards to wildlife. The challenge of plastic pollution is compounded by the fact that many African countries lack the necessary recycling infrastructure to handle plastic effectively.
More notably, 57% of Africa’s waste is organic in nature. This includes food scraps, garden trimmings, wood, and other biodegradable materials. In many other regions of the world, this type of waste is a valuable resource. It can be composted to produce fertilizer, converted into biogas for energy, or processed into animal feed and soil conditioners. However, in Africa, most of this organic matter is currently dumped into landfills or left in open dumpsites, where it contributes to methane emissions and public nuisance issues.
The potential socio-economic benefits of processing this organic fraction are enormous. Not only could it reduce the volume of waste requiring disposal, but it could also create jobs in composting enterprises, improve soil fertility, and reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers. Yet, despite this potential, very little investment has been made in unlocking these opportunities, leaving organic waste to become a burden rather than a benefit.
The Recycling Gap
Perhaps the most alarming aspect of the continent’s waste situation is the recycling gap. While an estimated 70% to 80% of Africa’s municipal solid waste is theoretically recyclable, only about 4% is actually recycled. This gap is not simply the result of consumer apathy; it is rooted in systemic issues ranging from inadequate infrastructure to weak policy frameworks, lack of incentives, and limited public awareness.
In many African countries, recycling is not a part of the formal waste management system. Instead, it has emerged organically, often out of necessity, driven by poverty, unemployment, and informal economic activity. Recyclable materials are typically recovered at the household level, at dumpsites, or from street bins, and sold to middlemen who supply small-scale recycling facilities. This informal economy operates without regulation, support, or integration into national waste management strategies.
The reasons behind the low recycling rate are complex. Firstly, there is a lack of segregation at source. Most households and businesses do not separate recyclables from general waste, making it more difficult to extract valuable materials later in the waste stream. Secondly, there are very few facilities that can process recyclables at scale. The infrastructure that does exist is often outdated, underfunded, or concentrated in a few major cities. Thirdly, market demand for recycled materials remains weak, partly due to the availability of cheaper virgin materials and limited local manufacturing industries that can absorb recycled inputs.
If these structural barriers could be addressed, Africa could tap into a wealth of resources that are currently going to waste. Investing in the recycling sector would not only reduce environmental degradation but also stimulate economic activity, generate employment, and foster a circular economy that aligns with global sustainability goals.
The Unsung Heroes
One of the most overlooked yet vital groups in Africa’s waste ecosystem is the informal waste pickers. These individuals, often operating at the margins of society, play a critical role in recovering recyclable materials from the waste stream. Whether scavenging at dumpsites or collecting from urban streets, waste pickers help divert thousands of tonnes of waste from final disposal.
Their efforts are conducted with minimal support and often under dangerous conditions. Without access to protective gear, health insurance, or labor rights, waste pickers face numerous risks including injuries, disease exposure, and social stigma. Nevertheless, their work forms the backbone of recycling in many African cities. They provide a service to municipalities at virtually no cost, reduce the burden on formal waste systems, and generate value from discarded materials.
Despite their importance, waste pickers remain largely invisible in policy discussions and urban planning. Formalizing their roles—through cooperatives, training, access to health care, and inclusion in city waste programs—could significantly enhance both the efficiency and humanity of Africa’s waste systems. Recognizing waste pickers not just as laborers but as environmental stewards is essential for building inclusive, sustainable cities.
Missed Milestones & AU’s Vision in Jeopardy
When the African Union set its target that all African cities would be recycling at least 50% of their waste by 2023, it represented a hopeful and ambitious vision of the future. However, with current recycling levels at just 4%, that vision appears increasingly distant. The gap between policy aspirations and actual outcomes has grown wider, highlighting the disconnect between declarations made at the continental level and implementation on the ground.
This failure has far-reaching consequences. Every tonne of waste that is not recycled represents a lost opportunity for economic growth, job creation, and resource conservation. It also exacerbates the environmental degradation affecting rivers, landscapes, and marine ecosystems. Perhaps most significantly, the failure to meet recycling goals reflects a broader crisis of governance, coordination, and prioritization in waste management.
Achieving real progress will require more than setting targets. It will demand a transformation in how waste is perceived, funded, and managed—starting with the acknowledgment that waste is not just a nuisance, but a potential resource and an economic asset.
Urgent Priorities
The Africa Waste Management Outlook identifies two intertwined priorities that must be addressed simultaneously to resolve the continent’s waste challenges. The first is the urgent need to bring waste under control from a public health perspective. Access to reliable waste collection and controlled disposal is a fundamental public service. Without it, millions of people are left exposed to disease vectors, polluted environments, and dangerous living conditions.
Controlling waste through proper collection and disposal is the bedrock of any functional system. It establishes order, protects public health, and sets the stage for more advanced waste management practices. Governments must invest in expanding collection coverage, particularly in underserved areas, and in transitioning from open dumping to engineered landfills and treatment facilities.
The second priority is to harness the socio-economic potential of waste. By moving waste up the management hierarchy—from disposal to prevention, reuse, recycling, and recovery—Africa can transform its waste sector into a driver of economic inclusion and sustainability. This shift will require a combination of infrastructure development, policy reform, financial investment, and public engagement.
Four Pillars of the Solution
To effectively manage its growing waste crisis, Africa must adopt a holistic approach grounded in four foundational pillars: services and technologies, evidence, capacity and awareness, and legislation and enforcement.
First, the continent must invest in appropriate and inclusive waste services and technologies that are tailored to local conditions. From waste collection vehicles and bins to recycling plants and composting units, the right technologies must be accessible, scalable, and sustainable. Second, there is a pressing need for better data. Without accurate information on waste volumes, types, and flows, it is impossible to plan, monitor, or evaluate interventions.
Third, building capacity and raising awareness are essential. Communities must be educated on waste segregation, recycling practices, and environmental health. Professionals must be trained, and partnerships across sectors must be encouraged. Fourth, the regulatory environment must be strengthened. Policies must be coherent, enforceable, and aligned with broader development goals. Strong institutions and active enforcement are necessary to move from rhetoric to results.
Looking ahead, the Africa Waste Management Outlook articulates a vision for 2030. By then, every citizen should have access to adequate waste collection services and environmentally sound waste management. Uncontrolled dumping and open burning should be relics of the past. Furthermore, at least 50% of all waste generated should be diverted toward reuse, recycling, and recovery. Waste prevention should become a national priority, supported by appropriate incentives and behavioral change campaigns.
Realizing this vision will not be easy, but it is achievable. It will require leadership, investment, and a fundamental rethinking of how waste is integrated into urban development, environmental protection, and economic policy. The metamorphosis of Africa’s waste sector holds the key to a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous future for all.
