Highlights on Uganda's Waste and Recycling Sector
This sector brief on Uganda's waste and recycling sector highlights several critical points regarding the country's rapidly growing population, waste management challenges, and opportunities for investment and collaboration.
Key Highlights:
Population Growth and Urbanization: Uganda has a young, fast-growing population, projected to reach 104 million by 2060, driving urbanization and associated challenges like informal settlements, a housing deficit, and increasing waste generation. Current waste management infrastructure is not keeping pace with this growth.
Waste Management Challenges:
Waste management is decentralized in Uganda, but local governments lack adequate resources and equipment to efficiently collect and dispose of waste.
In Kampala alone, the city generates between 2,000 and 2,500 tons of waste daily, but only 1,300 to 1,500 tons are collected, leaving a significant portion improperly disposed.
Organic waste is the largest waste stream, making up 43% of the total.
Opportunities in Waste Management:
There is a pressing need for public-private partnerships (PPPs) in waste collection, disposal, and recycling. Kampala's Greater Metropolitan Area has introduced the “Waste Collection and Management Master Plan” to address these issues through PPPs and funding from organizations like the World Bank.
Private companies, NGOs, and international organizations (e.g., GIZ) are collaborating to create sustainable waste solutions and promote recycling initiatives.
Recycling Sector:
Recycling in Uganda is driven by the private sector, supported by informal waste pickers who collect materials for sale to recycling hubs. The key areas of recycling include plastics, paper, organic materials, and metals.
Uganda’s plastic recycling sector is growing, with PET plastic recycling leading the way. However, only 6% of plastic waste is currently collected.
The sector is characterized by low mechanization, offering investment opportunities in technology, machinery, and job creation.
International and Private Sector Involvement:
Foreign investors from countries like China, India, and Turkey are leading the way in technology transfer and semi-processed plastic waste trade.
Large-scale projects like the GKMA PET Plastic Recycling Partnership involve key stakeholders like Coca Cola Bottlers Africa, Mukwano Group, and government agencies to strengthen Uganda's recycling infrastructure and promote public awareness.
Future Prospects:
There is a significant opportunity to invest in Uganda's waste and recycling sector, particularly in improving collection rates, developing recycling facilities, and engaging in waste-to-energy projects.
The sector holds potential for job creation, sustainable urban development, and collaboration between government, private enterprises, and international partners.
This overview provides a detailed understanding of Uganda's waste management landscape, shedding light on both the challenges and the opportunities for sustainable development.