Plastic waste recycling and upcycling
Business Model Description
Collect plastic waste from landfills or waste collectors network through contracts and recycle plastic waste to produce recycled plastic flakes or pellets to supply local and regional plastic industries.
Expected Impact
Establishing plastic recycling and processing facilities that integrate informal collectors into formal value chains increases formalization, reduces plastic pollution; especially in coastal areas cuts related emissions and creates added value from waste.
How is this information gathered?
Investment opportunities with potential to contribute to sustainable development are based on country-level SDG Investor Maps.
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Country & Regions
- Senegal: Dakar
- Senegal: Nord
- Senegal: Centre
- Senegal: Sud
Sector Classification
Infrastructure
Development need
Senegal faces territorial disparities in basic services. While clean water access has improved, sanitation remains a challenge. With 85% of drinking water sourced from groundwater, water supply is vulnerable to climate change and pollution. Poor waste management adds serious health and environmental risks. The country also faces a housing deficit of 300,000 units (1, 2, 3).
Policy priority
Stratégie Nationale de Developpement 2025-2029 promotes the enhancement of access to basic social services, including water and sanitation. Similarly, the Plan National d'Amenagement et de Developpement Territorial (PNADT) 2035 promotes equal access to quality basic social services, specifically in underserved areas (1, 2).
Gender inequalities and marginalization issues
Lack of basic infrastructure is particularly affecting the east and south regions development. Women are also disproportionately affected by the lack of access to basic infrastructure, as in Senegal, they play an integral role in water management because of their traditional responsibilities of water collection, among others. These traditional responsibilities, deepens their time poverty, impacts their health, and limits their educational and income opportunities (2,4, 7, 9).
Investment opportunities introduction
Senegal offers strong infrastructure investment potential. A fast urbanization particularly in population hubs such as Dakar, as well as the presence of underserved territories represent significant opportunities for growth. The country also targets the construction of 500,000 affordable homes by 2035, responding to the annual demand of 12,000 units (6, 7).
Key bottlenecks introduction
Senegal's limited financial resources hinders the country's capacity to upgrade and develop its basic infrastructure, especially in rural regions. Limited payment capacity from rural households, climate change vulnerability and rapidly increasing urbanization are key challenges to the development of quality basic infrastructure responding to the needs (1, 8).
Waste Management
Development need
Poor waste management, recycling and upcycling infrastructures, rising waste pollution, and illegal dumping threaten ecosystems and public health. Weak pre-collection and treatment systems hinder waste transformation into valuable resources, with less than 15% of plastic recycled. The sector's GHG emissions are predicted to rise by 17.6% by 2030 (1, 2, 10, 11, 12).
Policy priority
Stratégie Nationale de Developpement 2025-2029 plans the improvement of sanitary services, including through waste collection, treatment and transformation. The PNADT aims at improving living standards and housing, including through a good waste management system. The CDN 2020 aims at reducing emissions from waste sector by 11% by 2030 (1, 2, 12).
Gender inequalities and marginalization issues
Women have low paying jobs in the waste management chain and usually earn only half of what men earn working in the waste value chain (USD 14/day for women against USD 30/day for men). They are particularly involved in the cleaning and pre-processing of the recyclable waste and are either employed by landfill or sell the cleaned waste to wholesaler who then sell to industrials. With a rapid urbanization rate of almost 50% in Senegal, cities are more exposed to issues linked to waste management. Urban poor's are particularly affected by air and water pollution caused by these issues (13, 14, 15).
Investment opportunities introduction
Investment opportunities in the waste sector present impactful potential. Viable investments exists in plastic, scrap metal and aluminum recycling. Similarly, opportunities ca be found in industrial and hazardous waste treatment (2, 16).
Key bottlenecks introduction
Lack of regulation to govern waste producers and local authorities prevent the establishment of a coherent waste management system. Additionally, challenges in data control and integrated control over operational management of the waste treatment chain, as well as high informality and the need for capacity building in the sector are limiting its value-added (10).
Waste Management
Pipeline Opportunity
Plastic waste recycling and upcycling
Collect plastic waste from landfills or waste collectors network through contracts and recycle plastic waste to produce recycled plastic flakes or pellets to supply local and regional plastic industries.
Business Case
Market Size and Environment
> USD 1 billion
5% - 10%
In Senegal, conservative estimates report 250,000 tonnes of plastic waste produced each year (26).
In 2025, the waste treatment and disposal sector's revenues increased by 1.5% compared to the same period in 2024 (27).
In Senegal, each year, 38,518 tonnes of PET plastic waste are generated, representing 15 to 16% of plastic waste produced in the country. The demand for recycled plastic exceeds 15,000 tonnes per year (28, 29, 30).
The global recycled plastic market is projected to reach USD 55.46 billion in 2024, with the plastic industry growing at a CAGR of 8.6% between 2024 and 2032 (25).
Indicative Return
< 5%
The return on investment for a production of around 60 tonnes per month of plastic flakes is bellow 5% (44).
Investment Timeframe
Short Term (0–5 years)
Revenues can start being generated from the third year of activity (44).
Ticket Size
USD 500,000 - USD 1 million
Market Risks & Scale Obstacles
Market - Volatile
Business - Supply Chain Constraints
Impact Case
Sustainable Development Need
Only 14.5% of plastic waste is recycled in Senegal (16% for PET plastic waste), while more than 250,000 tons are produced each year, of which half is produced in Dakar. This low recycling rate contributes to rising GHG emissions from the waste sector, projected to reach 2,575 Gg CO₂e by 2030, a 41% increase compared to today (12, 26, 29).
Plastic pollution significantly contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, exacerbating climate change. In West Africa, transitioning to a circular economy model could reduce plastic waste by 40–50%, leading to a decrease in CO₂ emissions of 30 to 60% (26, 28, 33, 34).
Marine plastic pollution in West Africa causes estimated damages of USD 10,000–33,000 per tons of plastic waste. Key sectors affected such as fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism, coastal property and ecosystems face potential losses of USD 2,000–7,000 per tons (28).
Gender & Marginalisation
Plastic waste production is concentrated in Dakar and other urban hubs, while uncontrolled dumping affects poor peri-urban populations living near informal landfills along roads to major cities. These households face greater health and environmental hazards (13, 26).
The informal waste collection system relies on precarious workers, often young people and women particularly active in cleaning of the waste. They have no professional training, unstable incomes and high exposure to hazardous conditions. Women and families working as waste collectors are particularly vulnerable to health risks, income insecurity and social exclusion (13, 16).
Fishing communities along Senegal’s coastline are heavily affected by marine plastic pollution, which reduces fish stocks and threatens the livelihoods of small-scale fishers. This adds economic stress to already marginalized groups dependent on the blue economy highly impacted by climate change (26, 34).
Expected Development Outcome
Plastic recycling initiatives contribute directly to the government’s target of reducing waste-related emissions of 11% by 2030, while promoting a circular economy approach that turns waste into economic opportunity (12, 28, 35).
Plastic recycling reduces marine and coastal pollution, particularly in critical areas such as Hann Bay, improving the blue economy and protecting fishing and tourism activities that many households rely on (36).
Recycling facilities and enhanced plastic value chains create formal jobs, formalize informal collection, reduce dependence on imported virgin plastics, and could divert 40–50% of plastic waste from the environment by 2026, supporting industrial diversification and a circular economy (37).
Gender & Marginalisation
Provided that women and informal waste collectors are integrated into structured recycling value chains, investments in plastic recycling provides them with safer working conditions and more reliable income, reducing their economic vulnerability (13).
Reduction of marine plastic pollution through enhanced recycling initiatives leads to improved environmental conditions in coastal areas, thereby supporting the livelihoods of fishing communities (33).
By contributing to formalizing waste collection and recycling, marginalized groups such as urban poor households and informal workers gain access to new employment opportunities and social protection schemes (13).
Primary SDGs addressed
12.5.1 National recycling rate, tons of material recycled
Only 14.5% of plastic waste is recycled in Senegal, while more than 250,000 tons are produced each year (26, 29).
13.2.2 Total greenhouse gas emissions per year
Carbone dioxide emissions excluding LULUCF were of 0.7 tons per capita in 2023 (38).
Senegal targets 7% reduction in GHG emissions unconditionally and 29% conditionally by 2030. For the waste sector, Senegal’s emissions reduction intentions are set at 11% until 2030 and up to 65% if adequate external funding can be provided (12).
Secondary SDGs addressed
Directly impacted stakeholders
People
Gender inequality and/or marginalization
Planet
Corporates
Public sector
Indirectly impacted stakeholders
Planet
Corporates
Public sector
Outcome Risks
Poor waste management practices in new facilities could lead to environmental damages, reducing the overall impact on pollution reduction.
Local opposition may emerge if facilities are located near vulnerable communities without proper consultation.
Over-reliance on recycled materials could destabilize market prices if demand does not keep pace with supply.
Gender inequality and/or marginalization risk: Informal workers may remain excluded if integration into recycling value chains is not equitable or adequately managed.
Impact Risks
Limited local recycling technology and insufficient qualified workforce could reduce the effectiveness and impact of plastic waste recycling programs.
Lack of regulatory enforcement could limit the scale of recycling impact, with persistent reliance on uncontrolled dumping and burning, as well as low usage of recycles plastic by the industries, therefore limiting the environmental impact of the business model.
Global oil price fluctuations may lower plastic costs, reducing the competitiveness of recycled materials for construction and industry and limiting impact generation.
Gender inequality and/or marginalization risk: Gender inequalities may persist if women in informal waste sector are not specifically targeted for training and inclusion in recycling SMEs.
Impact Classification
What
Recycling of plastic waste reduces plastic pollution, decreases CO2 emissions from the waste sector and strengthens Senegal’s circular economy.
Who
Waste collectors, companies and SMEs in recycling, plastic industries.
Risk
If the recycling chain is not well-integrated, informal workers, particularly women, may remain excluded, plastic pollution may persist, and demand for recycled materials may stagnate.
Contribution
Investments in plastic recycling contributes to Senegal’s national commitment to reduce waste-sector emissions by 11% by 2030 and to national urban sanitation targets (1, 12).
How Much
The recycling instead of burning of the total global plastic waste would contribute to reduce GHG emissions by 25% (35).
Impact Thesis
Establishing plastic recycling and processing facilities that integrate informal collectors into formal value chains increases formalization, reduces plastic pollution; especially in coastal areas cuts related emissions and creates added value from waste.
Enabling Environment
Policy Environment
The National Development Strategy 2025-2029 plans the improvement of sanitary services, including through waste collection, treatment and transformation (1).
The Plan National d'Ammenagement et du Developpement du Territoire aims at improving living standards and housing, including through a good waste management system (2).
The Nationally Determined Contribution 2020 aims at reducing emissions from waste sector by 11% by 2030 (12).
Financial Environment
Financial incentives: The Law on Plastic (loi No. 2020-04) established a set priced for recycling companies to buy plastic waste (43).
Financial incentives: The CATAL1.5°T accelerator programme, coordinated by Ivestisseurs & Partners and co-financed by the Green Climate Fund and BMZ via GIZ, aims at financing innovative climate SMEs and startups in francophone West Africa over a five years period (2025-2029). It provides financing from EUR 50,000 to 200,000, techincal assistance and climate expertise and financed a plastic recycling project in Senegal (44, 46).
Fiscal incentives: The new Investment Code grants VAT suspension and refund (12–24 months), plus tariff exemptions for 3 years in Dakar/Thies and 5 years elsewhere for SME investments over USD 26,600. Strategic projects may receive additional government-negotiated benefits (45).
Regulatory Environment
Code de l'environnement: regulates waste management activities. It requires that activies linked to disposal or any treatment of waste is subject to prior authorization from the Minister responsible for the Environment. It also sets incentives for activities in the waste sector (39).
Loi No. 2020-04 sur le plastique: regulates and bans the use of certain one-use or disposable plastic products. It includes a total ban of one-use plastic bags in shops and establishes a plastic bottle deposit system. It also bans plastic import in Senegal (40).
Loi n° 2013-10 du 28 décembre 2013 portant Code général des Collectivités locales: sets that waste collection and management is the responsibility of local authorities and cities (41).
Loi no. 2022-18: creates the SONAGED, in charge of waste collection, transport, landfilling, treatment, and recovery of solid waste throughout the entire national territory, as well as to manage treatment and valuation equipment and infrastructure (42).
Marketplace Participants
Private Sector
Kaoplast, PROPLAST, Senrecycle, SODIAPLAST, SIMPA, Groupe Touba Industries,
Government
Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition, local authorities, Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Multilaterals
World Bank, IsDB, French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union, Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), LuxDev, Enabel,
Non-Profit
Plastic Odysee, UNIDO
Target Locations
Senegal: Dakar
Senegal: Nord
Senegal: Centre
Senegal: Sud
References
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