Cameroon targets 2% state budget allocation for circular economy by 2030

Cameroon’s government has unveiled ambitious plans to accelerate its transition toward a circular economy, aiming to allocate the equivalent of 2% of the national budget to this sector by 2030. The initiative is outlined in the National Roadmap for Circular Economy 2025-2035, developed by the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Territorial Development, which sets the country’s sustainable resource management and waste valorization priorities.

According to projections, circular economy expenditures are expected to reach 62.8 billion FCFA in 2025, with waste management costs nearing 30 billion FCFA annually. Combined, these figures represent 1.27% of the state budget. The government intends to gradually increase this allocation to 2% by 2030, representing an additional investment of over 53 billion FCFA based on the 2025 budget.

Urban waste generation surges amid infrastructure gaps

Cameron’s push for a circular economy is driven by rapidly growing waste volumes and the inadequacies of the current waste management system. The country generates approximately 6 million tons of waste annually, primarily from households, markets, public services, and businesses. However, the existing framework remains largely focused on collection, with limited processing and recovery capabilities.

The National Roadmap highlights that while the average waste collection rate stands at around 50%, recycling rates remain below 10%. In major cities like Yaoundé and Douala, annual waste production is projected to exceed 2.8 million tons by 2040, further straining already inadequate infrastructure.

The roadmap also underscores critical challenges, including the absence of source separation, minimal waste recovery, inadequate collection and treatment infrastructure, a lack of reliable statistical data, and limited institutional capacity.

Plastic pollution poses another urgent concern, with nearly 1,300 tons of plastic waste discarded into the environment daily. Only 250 tons are collected each month, and just 180 tons are recycled, highlighting the scale of the challenge ahead.

Strategic reforms and infrastructure upgrades to transform waste management

To address these issues, authorities plan to implement a series of institutional reforms and infrastructure investments aimed at strengthening the entire waste management chain. The roadmap recommends adopting a Prime Minister’s decree to integrate circular economy principles into value chains, revising environmental legislation, and enhancing oversight agencies. It also proposes clarifying roles between sectoral administrations and decentralized local authorities, with the potential creation of a National Waste Management Agency.

On the infrastructure front, the plan includes constructing or modernizing sorting centers, transfer stations, and internationally compliant landfills, as well as upgrading collection equipment. Additionally, it envisions installing biodigesters and composting units to process organic waste.

The document further advocates for community recycling incentives, public awareness campaigns on source separation and illegal dumping prevention, and increased support for training and innovation in recycling professions.

A blended financing model for sustainable waste management

The financing strategy relies on both public and private resources. The roadmap proposes enhancing municipal waste-related taxation, implementing a mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility system to fund collection and recycling through eco-contributions, and expanding the National Waste Exchange platform, which is already operational.

This digital platform is designed to streamline transactions for recyclable materials, attract private investment, and foster a thriving market for recovered waste.

Moreover, several international partners are identified as potential funding sources, including the African Development Bank, the African Circular Economy Facility, the World Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and multiple United Nations agencies.