How Cameroon plans to boost circular economy with waste management reforms

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

Cameroon is stepping up efforts to transition toward a circular economy, with a bold financial commitment outlined in its National Roadmap for Circular Economy 2025–2035. The plan, developed by the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Territorial Development, aims to allocate 2% of the national budget to circular economy initiatives by 2030—a significant increase from the current 1.27%. This shift reflects a strategic investment of over 53 billion CFA francs annually by 2030, based on the 2025 budget framework.

Under this roadmap, spending on circular economy activities is projected to reach 62.8 billion CFA francs in 2025, while annual waste management expenditures stand at nearly 30 billion CFA francs. Together, these investments represent a foundational step toward sustainable resource management and waste valorization across the country.

Mounting waste generation demands urgent action

The push for increased funding comes as Cameroon grapples with a rapidly growing waste crisis. According to the roadmap, the country generates around 6 million tons of waste annually—mostly from households, markets, public services, and businesses. Yet, the existing waste management system remains heavily skewed toward collection, with limited treatment and recycling capacity.

Current statistics paint a stark picture: only 50% of waste is collected nationwide, and less than 10% is recycled. In major urban centers like Yaoundé and Douala, annual waste output is expected to exceed 2.8 million tons by 2040, placing immense strain on already inadequate infrastructure. The report highlights critical gaps such as the absence of source separation, minimal waste valorization, insufficient collection and treatment facilities, outdated data systems, and weak institutional capacity.

Plastic pollution is a particularly urgent concern. The roadmap reveals that nearly 1,300 tons of plastic waste are discarded into the environment daily, yet only 250 tons are collected each month, and just 180 tons are actually recycled. This imbalance underscores the scale of the challenge and the need for systemic change.

Reforms and investments to overhaul waste management

To address these challenges, the government is rolling out a comprehensive package of reforms and infrastructure upgrades. Key measures include the adoption of a Prime Ministerial decree embedding circular economy principles into value chains, a review of environmental legislation, and strengthened oversight by relevant agencies. A clearer division of responsibilities between sectoral ministries and decentralized local authorities is also anticipated—potentially paving the way for the creation of a National Waste Management Agency.

On the infrastructure front, the roadmap calls for the construction and modernization of sorting centers, transfer stations, and sanitary landfills compliant with international standards. It also proposes the installation of biodigesters and composting units to process organic waste, alongside incentives for community-based recycling programs and nationwide awareness campaigns on source separation and illegal dumping prevention.

Capacity building and innovation in recycling industries are equally prioritized, ensuring that local workers and entrepreneurs are equipped to participate in the emerging circular economy.

A blended financing model to fund the transition

While public funds form the backbone of this transition, the strategy also leverages private sector participation and international partnerships. The roadmap proposes reforms to municipal waste-related taxes, the establishment of an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system to fund collection and recycling, and the expansion of the National Waste Exchange—a digital platform already in operation designed to facilitate transactions in recyclable materials, attract private investment, and foster a thriving market for secondary raw materials.

International partners are expected to play a key role. Potential funding sources include the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Circular Economy Facility, the World Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and several United Nations agencies, all of which have expressed interest in supporting Cameroon’s sustainable waste management agenda.