What Africa can teach us about zero waste

Cat Ellis
2 days ago
2 min read

Africa is disproportionately affected by plastic pollution despite contributing just 5% of global plastic production. Waste dumping, discarded textiles and plastic products sold by multinational corporations reflect a wider environmental injustice whereby waste generated in the Global North is exported to lower-income countries. This has prompted many environmental campaigners to describe the practice as plastic colonialism.

Yet this is only part of the story. Alongside the challenges posed by plastic pollution in Africa are traditions of reuse, repair and locally sourced materials, demonstrating that effective zero-waste systems already exist in many communities across the continent. At a time when countries around the world are introducing new policies to tackle single-use plastics, these zero-waste schemes offer practical examples of how reuse and refill systems can become part of everyday life.

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Before reusable coffee cups and plastic bag charges became commonplace elsewhere, many communities across Africa have long relied on systems built around reuse, repair and locally sourced materials. A report published by GAIA highlights handwoven baskets as a longstanding alternative to plastic bags in Morocco, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Rwanda. These are made from plant leaves and are therefore completely biodegradable, reducing waste while supporting local livelihoods and preserving traditional knowledge.

Zero-waste innovation is also building on these traditions. In Senegal, grassroots organisations are transforming invasive Typha weeds into building materials, biofuel and other products, creating jobs in the local community while offering an alternative to single-use plastics.

While these solutions are rooted in local cultures, economies and communities and are not universal across the continent, they demonstrate that effective zero-waste systems don't always depend on new methods or technology. As countries around the world work to reduce plastic pollution, these cases across Africa show that some of the most effective solutions may already exist in traditional knowledge, systems and locally sourced materials.

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Images:

African children illegal dump - Image by Riccardo Mayer (ST ref: 1133)