• Senegal and Cape Verde launch project to strengthen plastic waste management

• Initiative supports circular economy, green jobs and institutional capacity

• Senegal generates over 250,000 tons of plastic waste yearly

Senegal and Cape Verde have launched a joint project to improve the control, management and reduction of plastic waste, the Senegalese Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition announced on Monday, March 9.

The project, titled “Strengthening Senegal and Cape Verde’s capacity to control, manage and reduce plastic waste in line with the Basel Convention,” aims to strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of both countries to improve plastic waste management and tackle pollution more effectively, the ministry said.

The initiative is also expected to promote the circular economy, create green jobs and strengthen cooperation between public, private and community stakeholders.

In Senegal, the spread of plastic waste is largely driven by the widespread use of single-use bags and packaging. Plastic pollution remains a major challenge, said Khadidiatou Dramé, coordinator of the ministry’s legal unit. The country generates more than 250,000 metric tons of plastic waste each year, nearly half of which comes from the capital, Dakar.

Cape Verde is particularly exposed to marine plastic waste carried by ocean currents. Each year, thousands of tons of plastic accumulate on beaches, threatening marine ecosystems. The pollution also poses risks to biodiversity and public health.

Both countries have introduced several initiatives to address the issue. In Senegal, the government adopted a law in 2020 banning the production, use and import of plastic bags and plastic products with a high environmental impact, while stepping up efforts to promote a circular economy. However, enforcement of the law has fallen short of government expectations, said Diadji Niang, director of the multi-stakeholder platform for the development of the plastic circular economy.

In Cape Verde, a three-year project launched in January in partnership with the French Global Environment Facility aims to reduce plastic pollution at the source, restore biodiversity and strengthen local capacity for improved plastics management.

Lydie Mobio