Cameroon ramps up circular economy push with waste management reforms

Cameroon targets 2% of state budget for circular economy by 2030

Cameroon’s government has set an ambitious goal: by 2030, at least 2% of the national budget will be allocated to the circular economy. This commitment is outlined in the National Roadmap for Cameroon’s Circular Economy (2025–2035), developed by the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Territorial Development (Minepat). The strategy aims to transform the country’s approach to sustainable resource management and waste valorization.

According to the roadmap, circular economy spending is projected to reach 62.8 billion FCFA in 2025, with an additional 30 billion FCFA allocated to waste management—totaling 92.8 billion FCFA, or 1.27% of the national budget. The government plans to incrementally increase this allocation to 2% by 2030, requiring an additional investment of over 53 billion FCFA based on the 2025 budget baseline.

Urban waste crisis demands urgent action

Cameroon generates roughly 6 million tons of waste annually, with household, market, public service, and business waste contributing the most. However, the current waste management system is heavily skewed toward collection, with minimal processing and recycling capacity. The roadmap highlights critical gaps: a 50% collection rate and a recycling rate below 10%.

Yaoundé and Douala, the country’s largest cities, are expected to produce over 2.8 million tons of waste annually by 2040—further straining already inadequate infrastructure. The roadmap also identifies systemic weaknesses: lack of source separation, limited waste recovery infrastructure, insufficient data, and weak institutional capacities.

The plastic waste crisis is particularly severe. Nearly 1,300 tons of plastic waste are discarded daily, yet only 250 tons are collected monthly, with just 180 tons recycled. This stark imbalance underscores the scale of the challenge.

Policy reforms and infrastructure upgrades to transform waste management

To address these issues, the government is rolling out a series of institutional reforms and infrastructure investments. Key measures include:

• A Prime Ministerial decree to integrate circular economy principles into value chains
• Revised environmental legislation with stricter enforcement
• Strengthened coordination between sectoral agencies and decentralized local authorities
• Possible creation of a National Waste Management Agency

The roadmap also calls for:

• Construction and modernization of sorting centers, transfer stations, and compliant landfills
• Expansion of waste collection fleets
• Installation of biodigesters and composting units for organic waste
• Community-based recycling incentives
• Public awareness campaigns on source separation and illegal dumping prevention
• Training and innovation support in recycling industries

Balanced financing from public and private sectors

The financing strategy blends public funds with market-driven mechanisms. Proposed measures include:

• Enhanced municipal waste-related taxation
• Mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems to fund collection and recycling
• Expansion of the National Waste Exchange, a digital platform for trading recyclable materials

The platform aims to stimulate private investment, foster a viable market for recovered materials, and drive innovation in waste valorization.

International partners—including the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Circular Economy Facility, the World Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and several UN agencies—are identified as potential funding sources to support these efforts.