Authorities in Senegal and Cape Verde have launched a joint initiative aimed at improving plastic waste management and reducing pollution, as both West African nations face growing environmental challenges linked to plastic use.
The project, announced by Senegal’s Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition of Senegal on March 9, seeks to strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of the two countries to control, manage and reduce plastic waste more effectively.
The initiative, titled “Strengthening Senegal and Cape Verde’s capacity to control, manage and reduce plastic waste in line with the Basel Convention,” is aligned with the international treaty governing the movement and disposal of hazardous waste, known as the Basel Convention.
Officials say the programme will support improved waste management systems, promote a circular economy and create green jobs while enhancing cooperation among governments, businesses and community organisations.
Plastic pollution has become a growing concern across West Africa, where rapid urbanisation, rising consumption and limited waste management infrastructure have contributed to a surge in plastic waste.
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Rising plastic waste in Senegal
In Senegal, plastic waste has spread widely, driven largely by the widespread use of single-use plastic bags and packaging.
The country generates more than 250,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year, according to government data. Nearly half of that total is produced in the capital, Dakar, where rapid population growth and urban expansion have intensified waste management challenges.
“Plastic pollution remains a major challenge,” said Khadidiatou Dramé, coordinator of the legal unit at the environment ministry.
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Waste accumulation in urban areas and waterways has increasingly affected public sanitation, coastal ecosystems and fisheries that many local communities depend on for their livelihoods.
Marine pollution threatens Cape Verde
For Cape Verde, an island nation located in the Atlantic Ocean, marine plastic waste presents a particularly acute challenge.
Ocean currents carry large volumes of plastic debris to the archipelago’s shores each year, leaving thousands of tonnes of waste scattered across beaches and coastal areas.
The pollution threatens marine biodiversity and ecosystems while also posing risks to tourism, fisheries and public health.
Environmental authorities warn that plastic debris can damage coral reefs, harm marine species and enter food chains through microplastics.
Circular economy approach
The new initiative aims not only to reduce plastic pollution but also to promote a circular economy approach in both countries.
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Such an approach focuses on reducing waste through recycling, reuse and sustainable product design, helping transform plastic waste into a potential economic resource.
Officials say the project will strengthen collaboration between public institutions, private sector companies and community groups working on waste management.
Existing policies face enforcement challenges
Both countries have already introduced measures to tackle plastic pollution, though enforcement remains uneven.
In Senegal, authorities adopted legislation in 2020 banning the production, import and use of certain plastic bags and other plastic products deemed highly harmful to the environment.
However, implementation of the ban has been slower than expected, according to Diadji Niang, director of the multi-stakeholder platform supporting the development of a plastic circular economy in the country.
Weak enforcement, limited recycling infrastructure and continued demand for cheap packaging materials have made it difficult to fully eliminate single-use plastics.
Cape Verde has also launched several initiatives to address plastic waste.
In January, the government began a three-year project aimed at reducing plastic pollution at its source while restoring biodiversity and improving waste management capacity.
The programme is being implemented in partnership with the French Global Environment Facility, which supports environmental protection projects in developing countries.
Regional cooperation
Officials say the new partnership between Senegal and Cape Verde reflects growing regional recognition that plastic pollution requires cross-border cooperation.
Waste carried by rivers and ocean currents often travels long distances, meaning pollution generated in one area can affect ecosystems and communities in another.
By strengthening institutional capacity, promoting recycling and encouraging sustainable consumption patterns, authorities hope the project will help both countries make progress in reducing plastic pollution and protecting fragile coastal environments.
