24/11/2025
*Circular Economy & Waste Stock Market in Cameroon*
1. What Is the Circular Economy in the Context of Waste?
A circular economy aims to keep materials in use for as long as possible by recovering, reusing, recycling, and regenerating products at the end of their lifecycle.
In the waste sector, this means recycling, re-use, composting, and valorization, instead of sending all waste to landfills or open dumps.
In Cameroon, the circular economy is increasingly relevant due to rising waste generation, limited collection services, and growing environmental risks from poorly managed waste.
2. Current State & Key Drivers in Cameroon
a) Waste Situation
Urban waste generation has increased significantly in recent years.
Many city households lack adequate access to formal waste collection systems, leading to open dumping and frequent burning of waste.
Recycling activities—especially plastic recycling—remain limited and mostly informal.
b) Policy Framework
Cameroon’s National Strategy to Combat Plastic Pollution targets a 50% recovery rate for non-biodegradable plastics by 2029.
Decree No. 2012/2809 regulates sorting, collection, storage, recycling, treatment, and disposal of waste.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies are being promoted, encouraging producers and importers to take responsibility for their products after use.
c) Circular Economy Projects in Cameroon
WasteAid supports waste pickers (“wastepreneurs”), builds community recycling hubs, and strengthens local re-use and recovery systems.
Engineers Without Borders Luxembourg partners with local actors to improve plastic waste management infrastructure, particularly in the Mayo-Banyo area.
In Dschang, the municipality operates a successful system that converts organic waste into high-quality compost for agricultural use.
3. The Waste Stock Market (“Bourse Nationale des Déchets”—BND)
The BND is one of Cameroon’s most significant innovations in waste management and circular economy development.
a) What Is the BND?
Officially launched in June 2025.
Designed as a mixed-economy company, combining public and private ownership.
Serves as a marketplace physical and digital—where recyclable waste can be bought and sold.
Connects waste generators with recyclers, aggregators, industries, and other waste valorisation actors.
b) How It Works
Waste materials with economic value (plastics, metals, glass, paper, organic waste, etc.) are listed and can be traded through the BND network.
The platform provides indicative prices for various waste categories, helping guide collectors, local councils, and recycling companies.
By organising waste flows, the BND helps aggregate larger volumes, improving efficiency and profitability for recycling businesses.
c) Economic & Social Impact
Launched with 15 founding shareholders, including the State, municipalities, private investors, and sector associations.
Projected to reach financial sustainability by its third year of operation.
Helps formalize the informal waste sector, improving recognition and working conditions for waste pickers.
Increases the viability of recycling businesses and reduces reliance on uncontrolled dumping.
4. How the Circular Economy & Waste Stock Market Can Be a Game Changer
a) Environmental Benefits
Reduces illegal dumping and open burning.
Encourages sorting at source, increasing the quality of recyclable materials.
Promotes composting of organic waste, reducing methane emissions and improving soil health.
b) Economic Advantages
Turns waste into a resource and new source of income.
Creates opportunities for collectors, sorters, aggregators, “wastepreneurs,” and recyclers.
Attracts investment into recycling and waste infrastructure through the BND.
Encourages local value addition, keeping more economic benefits within Cameroon.
c) Social & Community Impact
Helps integrate informal waste workers into the formal sector.
Supports better livelihoods, stronger safety nets, and more stable incomes.
Boosts community ownership of environmental hygiene and resource management.
d) Policy & Governance Benefits
The BND facilitates tracking and monitoring of waste flows, helping improve national planning.
Strengthens public-private partnerships in the waste sector.
Encourages producers to adopt more recyclable designs and support take-back systems.
5. Challenges & Risks
Poor waste sorting at household and community levels slows down supply to the BND.
Price fluctuations in recyclables can affect business sustainability.
Inadequate recycling infrastructure may limit the functionality of the waste market.
Enforcement of existing regulations remains weak in some regions.
Capacity building is needed for waste collectors, entrepreneurs, and local authorities.
Low trust levels may discourage communities from participating without proper sensitisation.
6. Opportunities & Recommendations
1. Scale Awareness & Sensitization
Educate the public on waste sorting and recycling.
Promote the “waste is wealth” mindset.
2. Support Infrastructure Growth
Develop more sorting centers, collection hubs, and recycling plants.
Use blended financing models to reduce risk for private investors.
3. Build Capacity
Train waste pickers on quality sorting, safety, and aggregation techniques.
Empower youth and women to establish micro-enterprise models in recycling.
4. Strengthen Policy & Regulation
Enforce EPR rules.
Offer incentives (e.g., tax benefits) for businesses using recycled content.
5. Leverage the BND
Encourage municipalities to link their waste streams to the BND.
Promote the marketplace to recyclers, producers, and collectors.
Track and publish data on volumes traded to improve transparency.
6. Promote Innovation
Support startups producing eco-bricks, tiles, fuel briquettes, biogas, and compost.
Encourage research on locally adaptable recycling technologies.
7. Conclusion
The circular economy and the waste stock market (BND) offer a powerful pathway for Cameroon’s environmental, economic, and social transformation.
If effectively implemented, these systems can:
Generate green jobs
Reduce pollution and environmental risks
Improve urban hygiene
Stimulate sustainable economic growth
Turn waste into a valuable national assets
