African reuse and repair practices support circular economy
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Across many African cities, people routinely repair, reuse, and resell items instead of discarding them.
Limited income and unreliable waste collection drive these practices, which researchers at Charles Darwin University have identified as examples of a circular economy, a system that keeps materials in use for as long as possible. Their recent research examined policies and initiatives in African countries to understand how these existing circular practices can be expanded.
Thirty-four African nations have some form of ban on plastic bags, while Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Morocco operate facilities for recycling electronic waste and converting waste into energy. Kenya requires manufacturers to take responsibility for collecting and recycling their products after consumer use. However, Somalia, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo still largely rely on a traditional “make-use-discard” model.
The researchers found that current approaches often focus on importing formal waste management systems, but existing repairers, waste pickers, farmers, and small businesses are already key to circular practices. They argue that policymakers should prioritize recognizing and improving these existing systems, providing financial support, infrastructure, skills training, and supportive policies to scale them up. While several countries have begun implementing policies, challenges remain with waste collection, limited recycling facilities, and a lack of funding and capacity for enforcement.
