Côte d’Ivoire is preparing a 42.529 billion CFA franc ($76 million) plan for 2026-2030 aimed at transforming recycling into a more structured industrial sector, as the country seeks to turn growing volumes of waste into economic opportunities.
The plan is designed to strengthen waste recovery and recycling capacity, develop local processing industries and create jobs while reducing the environmental impact of plastic and other waste.
The initiative comes as Côte d’Ivoire faces growing pressure from increasing consumption of plastic products and packaging. The country imported about 550,920 tonnes of polymers in 2025, compared with 217,657 tonnes a decade earlier, according to figures presented in connection with the recycling strategy.
Despite the growth of the sector, industrial recycling capacity remains limited. Current facilities are estimated to process only around 5% to 10% of the available waste, leaving significant volumes either unmanaged or outside formal recycling channels.
The government therefore wants to move the sector beyond informal collection and establish a more industrial value chain, linking waste collection, sorting, processing and the production of recycled materials.
The recycling economy already generates significant activity in Côte d’Ivoire. The plastic recovery sector is estimated to generate around 15 billion CFA francs in annual revenue and support the livelihoods of nearly 30,000 people.
Authorities see greater industrialization as an opportunity to increase those economic benefits while improving waste management.
One of the planned projects is a waste recovery facility in Sikensi, in the Agnéby-Tiassa region. The facility is expected to contribute to the development of local recycling and waste-processing capacity.
The government is also relying on the extended producer responsibility principle, which requires producers and businesses to participate in the management and financing of packaging and other waste generated by the products they place on the market.
The strategy includes targets for 2030. Authorities aim to cut the commercialization of single-use bags and packaging by half, increase the use of reusable alternatives by 50% and raise the national recycling rate to 30%, from less than 10% currently.
The government is positioning the initiative not only as an environmental programme but also as part of Côte d’Ivoire’s industrial development strategy.
By increasing local recycling capacity, the country could reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills while creating new markets for recycled materials and reducing dependence on imported raw materials in some manufacturing activities.
The plan also comes as Côte d’Ivoire seeks to develop a circular economy in which materials are collected, processed and returned to production rather than discarded after a single use.
For businesses, the development of a more formal recycling industry could create opportunities in waste collection, logistics, sorting technologies, recycling plants and the production of recycled plastics and other materials.
The government’s challenge will now be to translate the planned 42.529 billion CFA franc investment into effective infrastructure, reliable waste collection systems and commercially viable recycling chains.
If implemented successfully, the programme could transform waste management from primarily an environmental challenge into a source of industrial activity, employment and investment for Côte d’Ivoire.