The Cameroonian government has set an ambitious goal: by 2030, it aims to allocate 2% of the national budget to the circular economy. This target is outlined in the country’s National Circular Economy Roadmap (2025-2035), developed by the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Territorial Development (Minepat). The document outlines sustainable resource management strategies and waste valorization initiatives.
The roadmap projects that circular economy expenditures will reach 62.8 billion Central African CFA francs in 2025, with annual waste management costs nearing 30 billion CFA francs. Combined, these figures represent 1.27% of the state budget. The government plans to gradually increase this allocation to 2% by 2030, requiring an additional investment of over 53 billion CFA francs compared to current levels, based on the 2025 budget.
Urban waste production surges across Cameroon
Cameroon generates approximately 6 million tons of waste annually, primarily from households, markets, public services, and businesses. However, the waste management system remains heavily focused on collection, with minimal processing and recycling capabilities. The National Circular Economy Roadmap highlights that the average collection rate hovers around 50%, while recycling rates fall below 10%. In major cities like Yaoundé and Douala, annual waste production is projected to exceed 2.8 million tons by 2040, exacerbating pressure on already strained infrastructure.
Key challenges include the absence of source separation, limited waste valorization, inadequate collection and treatment facilities, a lack of reliable statistical data, and institutional capacity constraints. Plastic pollution poses a particularly urgent threat, with nearly 1,300 tons of plastic waste discarded into the environment daily. Currently, only 250 tons are collected monthly, and a mere 180 tons are recycled—underscoring the scale of the challenge.
Strategic reforms and infrastructure investments
To address these gaps, authorities are implementing a series of institutional reforms and infrastructure investments aimed at strengthening the entire waste management chain. The roadmap recommends adopting a Prime Minister’s decree to integrate circular economy principles into value chains, revising environmental legislation, and enhancing oversight agencies. It also suggests clarifying responsibilities between sectoral administrations and decentralized local authorities, with the potential creation of a National Waste Management Agency.
Infrastructure development is a cornerstone of the plan. Proposed measures include constructing or modernizing sorting centers, transfer stations, and international-standard landfills, as well as upgrading collection equipment. Additionally, the roadmap advocates for the installation of biodigesters and composting units to process organic waste.
Community-based recycling initiatives, public awareness campaigns on source separation and illegal dumping prevention, and strengthened training and innovation in recycling professions are also prioritized. The strategy emphasizes both public and private financing mechanisms to ensure sustainability.
A dual financing approach: public funds and private sector participation
The funding model relies on a combination of public resources and private investment. The roadmap proposes enhancing municipal waste-related taxation, implementing an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system to fund collection and recycling, and expanding the National Waste Exchange—a digital platform already operational. This platform facilitates transactions in recyclable materials, attracts private investment, and fosters a thriving market for 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 United Nations agencies, are identified as potential funding sources to support these initiatives.
