Authoritative data tracking Africa's waste management crisis, the growth of e-waste, and the enormous economic opportunity hidden within our waste streams. Data sourced from WHO, UNEP, ITU, and the South African DFFE.
UNEP estimates that 70-80% of the waste generated in Africa could be recyclable, yet only about 4% is currently recycled. This means there is an enormous gap between what Africa is throwing away and what Africa could potentially recover.
Africa doesn't simply have a waste problem; it has a resource-recovery opportunity. Over 90% of waste generated in many African settings is disposed of at uncontrolled dumpsites and landfills, often with open burning.
PAESA's mandate is to close this gap. By formalizing waste collection and building certified recycling infrastructure, we can turn a municipal burden into an economic engine, capturing the value of raw materials that are currently being thrown away.
The World Health Organization describes e-waste as one of the world's fastest-growing solid-waste streams. Inappropriate recycling can release up to 1,000 different chemical substances, exposing workers and communities to severe health risks.
In 2022, the world generated an estimated 62 million tonnes of e-waste, equating to roughly 7.8 kg per person. Yet, only 22.3% was documented as formally collected and recycled.
The remaining 77.7% is undocumented, meaning it is likely sitting in homes, dumped in landfills, or being processed in dangerous informal conditions. This is where PAESA steps in to provide the regulatory framework for safe, traceable recovery.
Understanding the composition of African municipal waste is critical to building targeted recycling infrastructure. If current consumption patterns continue, plastic consumption demand in Africa could increase dramatically by 2060.
While organic waste makes up the majority of African municipal waste (~57%), plastic accounts for roughly 13%. The danger lies in the trajectory: UNEP projects a 375% increase in African plastic consumption demand between 2015 and 2060.
Without immediate intervention, robust EPR frameworks, and cross-border recycling infrastructure, this growth will overwhelm African cities and ecosystems.
Not every repair automatically eliminates an environmental impact, but extending the useful life of an electronic product delays replacement and delays the point at which the old device enters an end-of-life waste stream.
The data is clear, but action requires regulation. Discover the South African EPR regulations (R1184 - R1187) and the continental legal frameworks PAESA is implementing to solve this crisis.
View Regulations & Policy