Cameroon is taking decisive steps to transform its waste management system into a circular economy model. By 2030, the government aims to allocate 2% of the national budget to circular economy initiatives, as outlined in the National Roadmap for Circular Economy 2025-2035, developed by the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Territorial Development.
Under this plan, projected spending on circular economy efforts will reach 62.8 billion Central African francs (FCFA) in 2025, with an additional 30 billion FCFA dedicated to waste management. Together, these allocations represent 1.27% of the state budget, setting the stage for a gradual increase to the 2% target by 2030—a move that requires an additional investment exceeding 53 billion FCFA based on current budget projections.
Rising waste generation demands urgent action
The push for greater investment stems from a pressing reality: Cameroon generates approximately 6 million tonnes of waste annually. Most of this waste comes from households, markets, public services and businesses. However, the country’s waste management system remains heavily focused on collection, with limited capacity for processing and recycling.
Key statistics from the roadmap highlight the challenges: only about 50% of waste is collected, and less than 10% is recycled. In major cities like Yaoundé and Douala, annual waste production is expected to exceed 2.8 million tonnes by 2040, placing further strain on already inadequate infrastructure.
The roadmap also underscores systemic gaps, including the lack of source separation, minimal waste valorization, insufficient collection and treatment facilities, inadequate data collection, and weak institutional capacity. Plastic pollution is a particularly urgent concern, with nearly 1,300 tonnes of plastic waste entering the environment daily. Currently, only 250 tonnes are collected each month, and just 180 tonnes are recycled—highlighting the scale of the challenge ahead.
Reforms and infrastructure upgrades to reshape waste management
To address these issues, authorities are preparing a series of institutional reforms and infrastructure investments aimed at strengthening the entire waste management chain. The roadmap calls for a Prime Ministerial decree to formally integrate circular economy principles into value chains, along with updates to environmental legislation, enhanced regulatory oversight, and clearer delineation of responsibilities between government agencies and local authorities. The potential creation of a National Waste Management Agency is also under consideration.
On the infrastructure front, the plan includes the construction and modernization of sorting centers, transfer stations, and internationally compliant landfills. It also proposes the installation of biodigesters and composting units to process organic waste. Additional measures include incentives for community recycling, public awareness campaigns to promote source separation and combat illegal dumping, and expanded training and innovation support in recycling industries.
Public-private financing to drive long-term sustainability
The financing strategy goes beyond public funds. The roadmap outlines plans to improve municipal waste-related taxation, implement mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) systems to fund collection and recycling through eco-contributions, and expand the National Waste Exchange platform—a digital marketplace already in operation to facilitate transactions in recyclable materials, attract private investment, and foster a thriving market for waste valorization.
International partners are also expected to play a key role in funding. Potential contributors include the African Development Bank, the African Circular Economy Facility, the World Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and several United Nations agencies.
