Africa’s Wasted Potential: Unlocking Industrial Waste in Circularity

Africa’s rapid urbanization and the consequent industrial growth generate millions of tonnes of waste annually, yet most of it is lost to landfills or burned openly. This leads to a mounting environmental burden and missed prospects for economic growth. Unlike municipal or plastic waste, industrial waste remains largely overlooked—lacking proper data, recovery mechanisms, and financial incentives for its reuse.

p>This report presents a comprehensive assessment of industrial waste circularity across key African nations. It uncovers critical gaps, including the lack of industrial waste data and the absence of industrial waste circularity oriented regulations while also highlighting few successful industrial waste recovery models and achieved benefits. The report further outlines a strategic roadmap for integrating industrial waste into Africa’s circular economy, offering key policy recommendations and scalable solutions.

To deepen this discussion, CSE, in collaboration with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Nigeria, is organizing a Pan-Africa Workshop on March 25-26, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria. This workshop will mark the release of our report and will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, and regulators to address major challenges and explore pathways for scaling circular practices in industrial waste management.

It’s time to rethink industrial waste together—will it remain a burden, or become a resource for economic and environmental sustainability?

For more information, you may contact

Ishita Garg            
Centre for Science and Environment, India
Email: ishita.garg@cseindia.org