Africa can reduce its GHG emissions by opting for industrial waste circularity

New study report by India-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) highlights the continent’s potential in recycling industrial waste; calls for policy reforms, infrastructure investment, and industry-led collaborations to unlock the possibilities 

Download the CSE report click here 

Lagos (Nigeria), March 25-26, 2025: Industrial waste contributes 30-40 per cent of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Africa. A new report released here today says the continent can reduce its emissions significantly if it recycles this waste by initiating and encouraging industrial waste circularity.  

The report, titled ‘Africa's Wasted Potential: Unlocking industrial waste in circularity’, has been prepared and published by New Delhi (India)-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). It was released in Lagos at a pan-Africa workshop jointly hosted by CSE and Nigeria’s National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA). 

Speaking at the workshop, Ishita Garg, Programme Manager, Industrial Pollution, CSE said: “The CSE report uncovers the unexplored potential of industrial waste, a resource often ignored. Africa’s circular economy efforts have remained focused on plastic and municipal waste, and industrial waste has largely been overlooked. This report emphasises the urgency of addressing this issue and demonstrates how circular solutions can drive both economic growth and environmental sustainability.” 

Garg added: “The report stresses on the need to prioritise industrial waste and treat it as a resource and a development opportunity. By adopting circular practices, industries can lower raw material costs, improve energy efficiency, and reduce their GHG emissions while creating job opportunities.” 

A call to action: Lagos workshop brings key regulators together

The workshop in Lagosbrought together regulators from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania and is aimed at having focussed discussions on strengthening regulations, encouraging industry participation, and creating financial incentives to enhance circularity across industrial sectors. 

Dr Christopher N Beka, Director-Inspection and Enforcement with NESREA represented Prof Innocent Barikor, Director General of the Agency, at the workshop. Speaking in the event, Dr Beka said: “Africa’s industrial sector has a unique opportunity to integrate waste circularity -- especially as much of the continent’s industrial infrastructure is yet to be built. Regulatory frameworks need to evolve to support industrial waste circularity at large scale. Strengthening policies and enhancing industry participation will be crucial in industrial waste sustainability goals.” 

Garg pointed out that “while Africa is projected to double its GHG emissions by 2050 in a business-as-usual scenario, scaling up circularity practices could present a significant opportunity to cut GHG emissions at both country and continent level”. The CSE report indicates that 100 per cent recycling of just four types of industrial waste -- lead acid battery,  glass waste,  cashew waste and e-waste -- could reduce 8.7 million tonne of CO₂, which is a 2 per cent reduction in total GHG emissions from the continent. 

While the opportunities are clear, the report also sheds light on the barriers that hinder progress on the ground. One of the major roadblocks in enhancing industrial waste circularity in Africa is the absence of comprehensive waste inventories on the type and quantity of industrial waste generated. The report says that many African countries that are experiencing rapid industrialization, lack data on industrial waste generation, including figures on recycling, reuse and disposal, making it difficult to track material flows and identify opportunities for circularity. Said Garg: “The absence of such information has resulted in dumping of waste like slag, fly ash, plastic, glass, paper, etc which are otherwise easily recyclable.” 

“Having a waste inventory is a crucial first step towards industrial waste circularity and absence of such essential information questions the handling and management of industrial waste,” said Garg. Without reliable data, policies and interventions fails to address the actual scale of industrial waste challenges, she added. 

Other factors that make large-scale adoption of industrial waste circularity difficult include the limited financial support for circular practices, insufficient industrial waste management infrastructure, and gaps in the policy framework. The CSE report also highlights the absence of industrial waste targeted goals and actions in circular economy polices of many African countries, underscoring a major barrier to large-scale implementation. 

However, few promising solutions are emerging in different African countries:these include the use of waste as alternative fuels in cement plants, recycling other waste such as tyres, paper, glass, cashew nuts, lead batteries etc that are integrating waste materials into their production processes.These practices showcase the possibilities of transforming industrial waste into valuable resources while also generating economic benefits by creating new revenue streams and minimising waste and reducing GHG emissions. 

Way ahead: The key recommendations

The CSE report presents a strategic roadmap to scale up industrial waste circularity across the continent. Some of its key recommendations are as follows:

• Create a national waste inventory to track industrial waste generation, recycling, and disposal.
• Develop waste mapping and cross-industry waste exchange to repurpose waste as raw materials.
• Develop and implement industrial waste-focused policies that establish sector-specific guidelines.
• Introduce targeted financial mechanisms and invest in recycling infrastructure to make circular waste practices viable and scalable.
• Provide technical guidance and capacity building to help industries transition to circularity.

 

For more details, contact:

Ishita Garg
Programme Manager, Industrial Pollution,CSE
Email:ishita.garg@cseindia.org 

For more information on CSE’s work in Africa, contact:

Sukanya Nair
sukanya.nair@cseindia.org