Ethan Clarke
Africa produces 5% of the world's plastic, with 33 African countries importing 86.14 million tons of polymers and 31.5 million tons of plastic products between 1990 and 2017. This is a small proportion of the 400 million tons of plastic produced globally each year, but the continent's growing population and urbanisation are driving an increase in single-use plastic consumption.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of plastic produced globally each year | 400 million tons |
| Amount of plastic that ends up in lakes, rivers and seas each year | 19-23 million tons |
| Amount of plastic recycled each year | Less than 10% |
| Amount of plastic produced by Africa each year | 5% |
| Amount of plastic consumed by Africa each year | 4% |
| Amount of plastic imported by 33 African countries between 1990 and 2017 | 86.14 Mt of polymers in primary form and 31.5 Mt of plastic products |
| Amount of plastic imported by all African countries between 1990 and 2017 | 172 Mt of polymers and plastics |
| Amount of plastic that entered Africa between 1990 and 2017 | 230 Mt |
What You'll Learn
Africa produces 5% of the world's plastic
The continent is particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of plastic pollution due to its nascent recycling sector. Less than 10% of the world's plastic is recycled, and an estimated 19-23 million tons end up in oceans, rivers and lakes annually. In Africa, growing populations and urbanisation are driving an increase in single-use plastic, heightening environmental pollution and health threats.
In 2018, 17 coastal West African countries generated 6.9 million tons of plastic waste, with Nigeria alone accounting for 4.7 million tons per year. Of this, 20% was produced within 30km of the coast, with most of it ending up in the ocean.
The United Nations projects that plastic production is likely to rise from about 440 million tons a year to more than 1,200 million tons.
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Africa consumes 4% of the world's plastic
Africa produces 5% of the world's plastic and consumes 4%. This is a relatively small amount compared to the rest of the world, but the continent is particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of plastic pollution due to its nascent recycling sector. Less than 10% of the world's plastic is recycled, and an estimated 19-23 million tonnes end up in oceans, rivers and lakes annually.
In Africa, growing populations and urbanisation are driving an increase in single-use plastic, heightening environmental pollution and health threats. Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa produce the most plastic waste, with 255 million people in India alone. In 2018, 17 coastal West African countries generated 6.9 million tonnes of plastic waste, with Nigeria accounting for 4.7 million tonnes per year.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have collaborated to galvanise national efforts to reduce environmental threats to health since the adoption of the Libreville Declaration on Health and Environment in 2008. The private sector players in the recycling sector in Africa include RecyclePoints in Nigeria, PETCO in South Africa, EcoPost in Kenya, and BanQu, which introduced blockchain-based technology to help informal waste pickers build verifiable records of their collections and earnings.
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Africa's nascent recycling sector
Africa produces 5% of the world's plastic, which amounts to 400 million tonnes every year. However, the continent's nascent recycling sector means that it is particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of plastic pollution.
Africa's recycling sector is in its early stages of development, with less than 10% of the continent's plastic waste being recycled. This is due in part to the lack of infrastructure and resources available to collect and process recyclable materials. In addition, the growing population and urbanisation in Africa are driving an increase in single-use plastic consumption, which is heightening environmental pollution and health threats.
Despite these challenges, there are some promising initiatives and private sector players in Africa's recycling sector. For example, RecyclePoints in Nigeria, PETCO in South Africa, EcoPost in Kenya, and BanQu, which introduced blockchain-based technology to create a ledger of transactions for informal waste pickers, helping them build verifiable records of their collections and earnings while building credit.
In addition to these private sector efforts, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have collaborated to galvanise national efforts to reduce environmental threats to health. One such project is the Clim-HEALTH Africa project, which aims to help predict, prevent, and manage the acute public health effects of climate change in Africa.
While Africa's recycling sector is still in its infancy, these initiatives and collaborations demonstrate a commitment to addressing the negative impacts of plastic pollution and building a more sustainable future for the continent. With continued efforts and investment in infrastructure, Africa can develop a robust recycling sector that will not only reduce plastic waste but also create economic opportunities and improve public health outcomes.
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Plastic waste in Africa's lakes, rivers and seas
Africa produces 5% of the world's plastic, which amounts to 20 million tons of the 400 million tons of plastic produced globally each year. However, the continent consumes only 4% of the world's plastic.
Plastic waste, particularly single-use plastics and microplastics, contaminates freshwater sources such as Africa's lakes, rivers and groundwater. An estimated 19-23 million tons of plastic end up in oceans, rivers and lakes each year. This pollution can lead to the consumption of microplastics through contaminated drinking water, which could pose a risk to human health.
In 2021, Uganda joined the Clean Seas Campaign, demonstrating its commitment to curbing the flow of plastic waste entering its lakes and rivers. The Clean Seas Campaign, launched by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2017, is a global movement devoted to ending marine plastic pollution from source to sea.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa and UNEP have collaborated to galvanize national efforts to reduce environmental threats to health. They have jointly conducted several projects, including the Clim-HEALTH Africa project, which aims to help predict, prevent and manage acute public health effects of climate change in Africa.
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Plastic pollution in Africa's developing countries
Africa produces 5% of the world's plastic, which amounts to 400 million tons of plastic every year. However, the continent consumes 4% of the world's plastic. The plastic waste produced in Africa is not effectively managed due to the continent's nascent recycling sector. Less than 10% of the world's annual plastic production is recycled, and an estimated 19-23 million tons end up in oceans, rivers, and lakes annually.
Developing countries in Africa are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of plastic pollution. The growing population and urbanization in Africa are driving an increase in single-use plastic consumption, heightening environmental pollution and health threats. Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa produce the most plastic waste, with 255 million people in India alone. In 2018, 17 coastal West African countries generated 6.9 million tons of plastic waste, with Nigeria accounting for 4.7 million tons per year. Of this, 20% was produced within 30 km of the coast, and most of it ended up in the ocean.
The private sector in Africa is actively involved in the fight against plastic pollution. Companies like RecyclePoints in Nigeria, PETCO in South Africa, EcoPost in Kenya, and BanQu are making significant contributions. In 2014, BanQu introduced blockchain-based technology that creates a ledger of transactions, allowing informal waste pickers to build verifiable records of their collections and earnings while helping them build credit.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have collaborated to reduce environmental threats to health. They have jointly conducted several projects, including the Clim-HEALTH Africa project, which aims to predict, prevent, and manage the acute public health effects of climate change in Africa.
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Frequently asked questions
Africa produces 5% of the world's plastic, which is around 20 million tons.
Africa consumes 4% of the world's plastic, which is around 16 million tons.
Africa produces the most plastic waste in the world, along with Southeast Asia. This is due to a lack of government waste collection and disposal.
Between 1990 and 2017, 33 African countries imported 86.14 Mt of polymers in primary form and 31.5 Mt of plastic products. Extrapolated to the whole continent, this is around 230 Mt of plastic.
