From streets overwhelmed by waste to emerging recycling industries, Africa is rethinking the way it manages its waste. As waste generation continues to rise, the continent is exploring solutions that balance environmental protection, job creation, and economic development. In Ebolowa, Cameroon, an international symposium is paving the way for a new approach: transforming waste into a valuable resource for Africa’s sustainable development.
Across Africa, rapid population growth and urbanization have made waste management a central development challenge. Every year, the volume of waste generated increases, placing growing pressure on collection and treatment systems, with direct consequences for public health, the environment, and people’s quality of life. In 2025, the continent generated approximately 244 million tonnes of municipal solid waste. Although an estimated 70 to 80 percent of this waste could be recycled, only about 5 percent is currently recovered, according to the African Clean Cities Platform. Faced with mounting urban pollution, illegal dumpsites, and rising greenhouse gas emissions, Africa must urgently rethink its waste collection and management systems.
« Initiatives do exist, but waste continues to pile up in our streets. In landfills, poor waste management contaminates the soil and ultimately affects our health. This symposium aimed to bring together practitioners, academics, and public authorities to identify sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions for waste management. »
Colette Djadeu Nguemedyam, Chair, ME2SGDA Symposium Organizing Committee – Cameroon
To address this continental challenge, the city of Ebolowa in southern Cameroon hosted the first International Symposium on Waste Management in Africa from 7 to 10 July 2026. Held under the theme, « Social Marketing and Social Entrepreneurship as Drivers of Behavioural Change, » the event brought together nearly 300 participants to exchange experiences, strengthen stakeholders’ capacities, and develop solutions tailored to African realities. In Cameroon, for example, the economic potential of the sector is already becoming evident. According to the International Labour Organization, the collection and recycling industry for ferrous waste generated more than CFA francs 18 billion in 2024 and supported the creation of 20,900 direct jobs in 2025.
« I learned a great deal about the waste management models implemented in other countries. One key takeaway emerged: it is essential to adopt solutions that are tailored to our own context, because what works elsewhere cannot necessarily be applied here. »
Mballa A Mvogo Bernadette, Graduate Researcher, University of Ebolowa – Cameroon
Beyond fostering dialogue, the symposium aims to become a catalyst for innovation in building a cleaner and more resilient Africa. Through this collective effort, the International Symposium on Waste Management in Africa seeks to contribute to a continent-wide movement in which waste is no longer viewed merely as a problem, but as a resource that supports sustainable development.
