Africa currently recycles only 4 percent of its waste, falling significantly short of the African Union’s vision of achieving at least 50 percent recycling rate for generated waste by 2023.
This is particularly concerning considering that a substantial portion of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), estimated at 70-80%, is potentially recyclable.
It has been projected that by 2050, the volume of waste will triple from 174 million tonnes per year as of 2016 to approximately 516 million tonnes per year across the African continent.
This is majorly due to major changes Africa is experiencing, through ever-expanding urbanization, growth in population and increase in economic activities.
These factors present various reasons for concern, as for a growing continent, the need for recycling all the waste being produced becomes increasingly important.
A whopping 19 of the world’s 50 biggest dumpsites are found in Africa and are mostly located in Sub-Saharan Africa. Imported goods account for a large portion of these generated waste products as many companies find Africa as a good location to send their products, containers, packaging and all.
Nigeria is one of the leading producers of waste in the African continent, according to the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, with 32 million metric tonnes of waste annually.
Nigeria also falls among the 30 countries with the worst waste management practices out of 180 countries in the world. Accounting for a growing population of over 200 million people, these numbers are only expected to rise in the coming years.
Being a continent that barely recycles 4 percent of its total waste Africa finds itself in a serious mess, literally. The need to have everyone onboard to tackle this problem takes priority and should be handled by all parties involved, from the government to global unions, corporations, manufacturers, and industries.
Leading the charge for this discussion at the World Trade Organisation’s Trade and Environment Week from the 7th to 11th of October, FREEE Recycle, the Nigerian integrated waste recycling and manufacturing company, proposed an initiative that was in line with this year’s edition, “Trade for Clean Energy Transition for All”.
Addressing the WTO at the high-level session on “the challenge of managing the end-of-life cycle of imported tyres into Nigeria,” Mrs. Ifedolapo Runsewe, managing director, FREEE Recycle, stressed the need for policies and implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the need to repatriate EPR funds to fill the technology gap in developing countries.
“There is a need for programs to subsidize and exempt recycling equipment from import duties and tax exemptions for purchasing recycling equipment. For the Nigerian economy and indeed Africa to successfully be part of the recycling conversation there is a pressing need for affordable recycling materials and patient financing for recycling operations. Developing countries tend to be hit worst of all in the amount of waste being produced and deposited and there is the urgency to support clean energy transition for these regions”.
The conference presented the delegates from FREEE Recycle the opportunity to showcase their green products all made from recycled rubber tyres.
FREEE also had the privilege of meeting and introducing the company and products to the Director General of the WTO Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Products were showcased to the Director General, while highlighting the impact being made in Nigeria within the 4 years of operation.
The Director General further expressed her satisfaction and happiness with the products and the impact being made by FREEE Recycle to redefine waste management in Africa by transforming waste into valuable resources while creating economic opportunities for local communities.
While leading the charge on the global stage, FREEE Recycle is also championing the Recycle narrative locally through its ongoing commitment to building a sustainable future.
This is seen in their recent partnership with Access Bank through the FREEE Impact Foundation, launching eco-friendly playgrounds and the production of over 4,500 sandals for students at various schools across Ibadan. These playgrounds and sandals were produced from recycled discarded tyres.
The project provides children with eco-friendly footwear encouraging improved school attendance, enhanced academic performance, and better health outcomes for the children. The playgrounds guarantee safe and fun spaces to play while promoting environmental sustainability through waste repurposing.
Reinforcing FREEE Recycles’ commitment to a better, safer environment, encouraging socio-economic growth. Additionally, this initiative reinforces our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 4 on Quality Education and SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals.
The company remains committed to making a change in Nigeria and the African continent through an innovative approach to waste management, targeted partnerships and social impact.
In transforming waste into valuable resources and creating economic opportunities, the company is paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future for Africa.
