Cameroon targets 2% of state budget for circular economy by 2030
The Cameroonian government has set an ambitious goal: by 2030, at least 2% of the national budget will be allocated to the circular economy. This commitment is outlined in the National Roadmap for Circular Economy 2025-2035, developed by the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Territorial Development (Minepat). The strategy aims to transform the country’s approach to resource management and waste valorization through sustainable policies.
According to the roadmap, total spending on circular economy initiatives is projected to reach 62.8 billion FCFA in 2025, with an additional 30 billion FCFA allocated to general waste management—bringing the combined total to 92.8 billion FCFA, or 1.27% of the state budget. The government plans to gradually increase this allocation to 2% by 2030, representing an additional investment of over 53 billion FCFA compared to current levels.
Urban waste crisis: rising volumes, weak infrastructure
Cameroon currently generates around 6 million tonnes of waste annually, mostly from households, markets, public services and businesses. However, the waste management system remains heavily focused on collection, with minimal treatment and recycling capacity. The National Roadmap highlights critical gaps: an average collection rate of just 50%, and a recycling rate below 10%. In Yaoundé and Douala alone, waste production is expected to exceed 2.8 million tonnes per year by 2040, placing further strain on already inadequate infrastructure.
Key challenges include the absence of source separation, limited recycling initiatives, insufficient collection and treatment facilities, a lack of reliable waste data, and weak institutional capacity. Plastic pollution is a particularly urgent concern: nearly 1,300 tonnes of plastic waste are released into the environment daily, yet only 250 tonnes are collected each month, and just 180 tonnes are recycled—underscoring the scale of the challenge.
Policy overhaul and infrastructure upgrades planned
To address these issues, authorities are preparing a comprehensive set of reforms and investments targeting every stage of the waste management chain. Recommended measures include a Prime Minister’s decree embedding circular economy principles into value chains, updates to environmental legislation, stronger enforcement agencies, and clearer roles for decentralized local authorities. A National Waste Management Agency may also be established.
On the infrastructure front, the roadmap calls for building or upgrading sorting centers, transfer stations, and sanitary landfills that meet international standards. It also proposes expanding organic waste processing through biodigesters and composting units. Community-based recycling initiatives, public awareness campaigns on source separation, and crackdowns on illegal dumping are also planned, alongside enhanced training and innovation support for recycling professionals.
Mixed financing model: public funds, private sector and international partners
The financing strategy relies on both public resources and private investment. Proposed measures include reforming municipal waste-related taxes, introducing mandatory extended producer responsibility schemes to fund collection and recycling, and strengthening the National Waste Exchange platform—a digital marketplace designed to facilitate transactions in recyclable materials, attract private capital, and foster a thriving market for recovered resources.
The roadmap also identifies several international partners as potential funding sources, including the African Development Bank, the African Circular Economy Facility, the World Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and multiple United Nations agencies.
