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Sustainable Solid Waste Management, Recycling, and Transformation

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Sustainable Solid Waste Management, Recycling, and Transformation

Sector
Most major industry classification systems use sources of revenue as their basis for classifying companies into specific sectors, subsectors and industries. In order to group like companies based on their sustainability-related risks and opportunities, SASB created the Sustainable Industry Classification System® (SICS®) and the classification of sectors, subsectors and industries in the SDG Investor Platform is based on SICS.
Infrastructure
Sub Sector
Most major industry classification systems use sources of revenue as their basis for classifying companies into specific sectors, subsectors and industries. In order to group like companies based on their sustainability-related risks and opportunities, SASB created the Sustainable Industry Classification System® (SICS®) and the classification of sectors, subsectors and industries in the SDG Investor Platform is based on SICS.
Waste Management
Indicative Return
Describes the rate of growth an investment is expected to generate within the IOA. The indicative return is identified for the IOA by establishing its Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Return of Investment (ROI) or Gross Profit Margin (GPM).
15% - 20% (in ROI)
Investment Timeframe
Describes the time period in which the IOA will pay-back the invested resources. The estimate is based on asset expected lifetime as the IOA will start generating accumulated positive cash-flows.
Short Term (0–5 years)
Market Size
Describes the value of potential addressable market of the IOA. The market size is identified for the IOA by establishing the value in USD, identifying the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) or providing a numeric unit critical to the IOA.
USD 100 million - USD 1 billion
Average Ticket Size (USD)
Describes the USD amount for a typical investment required in the IOA.
USD 500,000 - USD 1 million
Direct Impact
Describes the primary SDG(s) the IOA addresses.
Good health and well-being (SDG 3) Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) Life Below Water (SDG 14)
Indirect Impact
Describes the secondary SDG(s) the IOA addresses.
Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) Climate Action (SDG 13) Life on Land (SDG 15)

Business Model Description

Purchase or collect waste, notably plastic, and transform it into construction material (bricks, insulation material), furniture, and other goods which can be sold to the public. This can be carried out independently of government or public co-investment. Collection can also be charged to public authorities under a public-private partnership and generate a second stream of revenues, subject to authorization from the National Agency for Waste Collection (ANAGED). Payments are made per tonne processed or fixed, with retributions determined by annual contracts.

Expected Impact

Translate into better health outcomes, job creation, and long-lasting benefits for the planet resulting from a diminution of solid waste contamination of soils and seas.

How is this information gathered?

Investment opportunities with potential to contribute to sustainable development are based on country-level SDG Investor Maps.

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Country & Regions

Explore the country and target locations of the investment opportunity.
Region
  • Côte d'Ivoire: District Autonome d'Abidjan
  • Côte d'Ivoire: Bas-Sassandra
  • Côte d'Ivoire: District Autonome de Yamoussoukro
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Sector Classification

Situate the investment opportunity within sustainability focused sector, subsector and industry classifications.
Sector

Infrastructure

Development need
Côte d'Ivoire estimated its public investment financing needs at 15 billion USD over the period 2021-2025, notably to fund large infrastructure projects and digital technology. The coverage rate for cleaning services increased from 3.3% in 2018 to 10.4% in 2022, and remains limited in rural areas. Côte d'Ivoire's ICT Development Index was ranked 127th in the world in 2024, lower than the average for countries with the same level of GDP per capita (1, 7, 8).

Policy priority
The National Development Plan (2021-2025) aims to develop large infrastructure for large cities facing the challenge of rapid urbanization, including the construction of interchanges and 4,334 km of new roads, four recovery units for solid waste, and the extension of the 5,435 km fiber optic network (3, 8).

Gender inequalities and marginalization issues
Large infrastructure projects have significantly advanced the development of southern cities, but progress in northern rural areas remains modest, leading to persistent inequalities in access to basic amenities. Northern regions have high levels of multidimensional poverty and low rates of access to adequate sanitation. Ivorian women are particularly vulnerable to sanitation issues as 85.9% of them are in charge of the supply of water within their family (2, 3, 4, 5, 18).

Investment opportunities introduction
Côte d'Ivoire has one of the most developed road networks in West Africa, with a total of 82,612 km, aiming to invest 3,750 billion CFA Francs (USD 6.2 billion) over five years to modernize it. The market potential for ICT infrastructures is high, with a limited fixed penetration rate (1.4%) and revenues in the fixed internet industry rising 28.5% to USD 37 million in 2023 (5, 13, 14, 15).

Key bottlenecks introduction
Côte d'Ivoire faces a major infrastructure financing gap, worsened by rising public debt, which grew from 38.4% of GDP in 2019 to 58.1% in 2023, and a current deficit of 5.2%. This increases borrowing costs and affects public investment in major infrastructure projects, as the state is a major contractor for large-scale infrastructures. The construction sector also suffers from delays, with construction permits taking up to 163 days, above the regional average of 145 days​ (6, 16, 17).

Sub Sector

Waste Management

Development need
Only 30% of solid waste is recycled in Abidjan, and 5% of plastics. This leads to illegal dumping and water contamination, and the proliferation of rodents and diseases. Daily waste production is estimated at 4,000 tons in Abidjan alone. At the national level, 60% of children cases of malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia are caused by poor waste management (7, 8, 9, 11, 12).

Policy priority
Côte d'Ivoire's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) aim to improve plastic waste management and reduce GHG emissions by 12.96% by 2030 compared to the baseline. In 2020, the country committed to banning plastic packaging by 2025, with plastic exports decreasing by 30% from 2018 to 2022. The government promotes corporate solutions to plastic pollution, as highlighted during World Environment Day 2023 (9, 10).

Gender inequalities and marginalization issues
Poor recycling, especially from plastic waste, leads to sanitary risks. Ingestion can alter gene expression and brain development, cause respiratory impairments and decrease fertility, particularly in women (9).

Investment opportunities introduction
The recycling market is estimated to be worth over 200 million USD in Côte d'Ivoire. The plastic sector alone employs 10,000 people in over 40 companies. In addition, Côte d'Ivoire still imports 300,000 tons of plastic every year, which could be sourced from recycled plastic at a cheaper cost and constituting an environment-friendly solution (9).

Key bottlenecks introduction
Logistical shortcomings hamper waste collection and the development of a circular economy. Plastic recycling also benefits from economies of scale, implying that recycled plastic could be more expensive than single-use imported plastics if the factories are not large enough. Despite a 2013 ban on single-use plastics, enforcement has been limited, especially in informal sectors where these products continue to dominate (10, 19).

Industry

Waste Management

Pipeline Opportunity

Discover the investment opportunity and its corresponding business model.
Investment Opportunity Area

Sustainable Solid Waste Management, Recycling, and Transformation

Business Model

Purchase or collect waste, notably plastic, and transform it into construction material (bricks, insulation material), furniture, and other goods which can be sold to the public. This can be carried out independently of government or public co-investment. Collection can also be charged to public authorities under a public-private partnership and generate a second stream of revenues, subject to authorization from the National Agency for Waste Collection (ANAGED). Payments are made per tonne processed or fixed, with retributions determined by annual contracts.

Business Case

Learn about the investment opportunity’s business metrics and market risks.

Market Size and Environment

Market Size (USD)
Describes the value in USD of a potential addressable market of the IOA.

USD 100 million - USD 1 billion

According to the National Urban Sanitation Agency (Anasur), the recycling market in Côte d'Ivoire is estimated to be worth 120 billion CFA francs (over USD 200 million). Municipal waste is expected to grow by 70% from 2024 to 2050, providing additional gains linked to waste recovery (33, 42).

Indicative Return

ROI
Describes an expected return from the IOA investment over its lifetime.

15% - 20%

Benchmark investments in the Economic Community of West African States region (ECOWAS) indicate a return on investment between 15 to 25% (49).

Investment Timeframe

Timeframe
Describes the time period in which the IOA will pay-back the invested resources. The estimate is based on asset expected lifetime as the IOA will start generating accumulated positive cash-flows.

Short Term (0–5 years)

Solid waste recycling investments in the Western African region, including an example of plastic waste transformation into construction bricks, indicate that, taking into account equipment, variable costs and labor, the business can be profitable in two to four years (48, 49).

Ticket Size

Average Ticket Size (USD)
Describes the USD amount for a typical investment required in the IOA.

USD 500,000 - USD 1 million

Market Risks & Scale Obstacles

Business - Supply Chain Constraints

Disruption in transport may complicate the collection and recycling of waste from rural areas and northern cities, as well as cross-cities trade in waste.

Business - Supply Chain Constraints

High cost of waste collection and transportation affect profitability, especially outside urban areas (30).

Impact Case

Read about impact metrics and social and environmental risks of the investment opportunity.

Sustainable Development Need

Ivorians produce 0.64 kg of waste per day on average, against 0.46 kg for Sub-Saharan Africa. Unregulated waste disposal results in water pollution - impacting lagoons and ultimately marine life and birds - and coastal degradation (46).

60% of households dump solid waste in the street, while 48% dump sewage there. Waste dumping is correlated with disease prevalence, and notably malaria and diarrhoea, as it attracts insects and facilitates the proliferation of germs (20).

Typical risks incurred by illegal dumping include methane emissions and hazardous leachate, which can have a long-term impact on life expectancy and the development of respiratory diseases, which is a growing problem in Côte d'Ivoire (54 ,55).

Water contamination and waste accumulation pose a threat to economic activities such as tourism and fishing (57).

Gender & Marginalisation

Academic studies indicate that women are more vulnerable to disease and infections resulting from solid waste accumulation, notably plastic. This translates into lower fertility rate and is exacerbated by poverty levels (20).

Informal settlements in suburban areas and rural households are particularly affected by waste pollution, posing sanitary threats (54).

Expected Development Outcome

Solid waste recycling reduces the volume of waste disposed of improperly, helping to mitigate water pollution and coastal degradation. Reduced leakages of plastic debris avoid threats to aquatic organisms and disruptions of the food chain, which affects larger marine fauna and even human populations who rely on these waters for fishing and sustenance (54).

Recycling reduces the amount of waste dumped in the streets, helping to lower the prevalence of diseases like malaria and diarrhoea by reducing insect breeding grounds and germ proliferation.

The deployment of recycling solutions helps reduce waste accumulation and the emission of toxic gases, including methane, contributing to public health (54)

Solid waste recycling helps protect economic activities threatened by pollution, and creates additional opportunities in the collection, recycling, and logistic sectors. It can act as a lever for job creation (20, 54).

Gender & Marginalisation

The establishment of collection points and recycling plants in larger cities would lead to lower germs and rodents proliferation, benefiting women and poor households, which stand most affected (43).

Improving the collection and recycling system in suburban and rural areas would lead to improvements in health for the most affected populations (54).

Primary SDGs addressed

Good health and well-being (SDG 3)
3 - Good Health and Well-Being

3.4.1 Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease

Current Value

The probability of dying from any of CVD, cancer, diabetes, CRD between age 30 and exact age 70 was 22% in 2019 (40).

Target Value

At the global level, the objective is to reduce by one third by 2030, through prevention and treatment, the rate of premature mortality due to non-communicable diseases and promote mental health and well-being (22).

Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)
11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities

11.6.1 Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste generated, by cities

Current Value

Recycling estimates vary between cities and waste types. For plastic, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) estimates that Abidjan recycles only 5% of the total (11).

Target Value

N/A

Life Below Water (SDG 14)
14 - Life Below Water

14.1.1 (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

Current Value

In Côte d'Ivoire, plastic waste leaks into the environment at a rate of 12,748.40 kg daily (56).

Target Value

The government has signed an agreement to ban all plastic packaging by 2025 (24).

Secondary SDGs addressed

Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8)
8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
Climate Action (SDG 13)
13 - Climate Action
Life on Land (SDG 15)
15 - Life on Land

Directly impacted stakeholders

People

Inhabitants of informal settlements benefit from increased recycling, which also leads to job creation (58).

Gender inequality and/or marginalization

Women and children, especially from poor areas, are the most impacted by waste-related infectionary diseases and would benefit the most from improved recycling (20).

Planet

Nature and animals would benefit from improved solid waste collection and recycling. Single-use plastic contaminate the planet for over 400 years and have dramatic consequences on aquatic life (23).

Corporates

Actors from the circular economy, recycling firms, and large retailer companies such as Castel benefit from the availability of recycled material, both as output and inputs (such as PET Plastic).

Public sector

Municipalities benefit from more efficient waste collection through local partnerships with recycling firms.

Indirectly impacted stakeholders

People

The general population will experience improved health and economic outcomes, with significant benefits for fishermen and residents of coastal areas due to reduced pollution (57).

Gender inequality and/or marginalization

Women, who make up 80% of the workforce in the solid waste recycling industry in Africa, would benefit from the formalization of this sector, leading to improved economic opportunities and better health outcomes (42).

Planet

Biodiversity benefits from improved waste collection, as it reduces illegal dumping and minimizes the harmful effects of solid waste on ecosystems, particularly the aquatic fauna and birds.

Corporates

Companies in the logistics sector benefit from increased activity related to the transport and storage of waste.

Public sector

The government benefits from an improvement in public health.

Outcome Risks

Without proper monitoring, recycling companies can pose environmental and health risks to the surrounding communities. Waste can leach into soil and groundwater, affecting drinking water supplies and harming local ecosystems (60).

Formalizing waste management systems may displace informal workers, who play a key role in waste collection and recycling, impacting their livelihoods and creating socioeconomic challenge (59).

Workers in waste collection and recycling, which is a sector dominated by women who earn low incomes, are exposed to hazardous materials (e.g., sharp objects, toxic chemicals, infectious waste) without adequate protective gear (62).

Impact Risks

Lack of public awareness and participation can hinder recycling programs, leading to continued improper waste disposal from local communities.

If recycling is not accompanied by a general policy to curb imports of plastic and single-use plastic goods, this may result in a stagnation or increasing total consumption despite recycling efforts.

Gender inequality and/or marginalization risk: If collection and recycling is confined to the big cities, particularly Abidjan, there could be a widening of the regional divide and sustained pollution of marine ecosystems.

Impact Classification

C—Contribute to Solutions

What

Improved solid waste collection and recycling would lead to better health and environmental outcomes as well as job creation.

Who

The general population would benefit, especially households from poor suburban areas, women, and children. The planet benefits from lower pollution levels.

Risk

Inadequate public awareness and lack of policies limiting plastic imports can undermine recycling programs, leading to improper waste disposal and stagnant or rising plastic consumption.

Contribution

Investments in recycling replace informal waste collection, which have lower recycling rates and produce limited output.

How Much

The Ministry of Sanitation and Hygiene aims to create 10 regional hubs for solid waste recycling and recovery. In addition, the government targets an improvement in solid waste collection in Abidjan, to 95% of the total (45).

Impact Thesis

Translate into better health outcomes, job creation, and long-lasting benefits for the planet resulting from a diminution of solid waste contamination of soils and seas.

Enabling Environment

Explore policy, regulatory and financial factors relevant for the investment opportunity.

Policy Environment

The National Solid Waste Management Program (Programme National de Gestion des Déchets Solides) promotes solid waste recycling and supports the implementation of the Basel and Bamako Conventions. It focuses on managing hazardous and industrial waste, e-waste, packaging waste, lead-acid batteries, and used tires, while also raising public awareness on eco-friendly waste practices (44).

Côte d'Ivoire’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) prioritize enhancing waste collection and urban sanitation, alongside promoting the sustainable management and recovery of waste as essential pillars of the country's environmental strategy (14).

The Urban Sanitation and Resilience Project (Projet d'Assainissement et de Resilience Urbaine) aims to improve solid waste management in Abidjan through recycling and valorisation initiatives, aiming to create economic value, reduce poverty, and support environmental sustainability in line with Côte d’Ivoire's development goals (28).

The National Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) Action Plan (2019) aims to reduce emissions of black carbon, methane, and other pollutants through improved waste management practices, including recycling. It targets a 30% reduction in methane emissions from waste by 2030 (31).

The Sanitary Waste Management Plan (Plan de Gestion des Déchets Sanitaires) ambitions to improve the management of sanitary waste, with the aim of improving the health of young children and women (32).

Financial Environment

Financial incentives: A tax credit is granted for the four years following the investment's completion. This credit amounts to 10% of the investment but cannot exceed 50% of the taxable profits, providing a direct incentive for companies to invest in waste recycling​ (26).

Fiscal incentive: Ordinance No. 2019-1087 aims to improve sanitation and solid waste management by increasing the portion of property tax allocated to sanitation funding from 25% to 50% dedicated funds to it (61).

Other incentives: Several repurchase and recycling agreements concerning plastic wastes have been signed by the government, including the recycling of 40,000 tons of plastic waste by 700 war veterans in the communes of Yopougon, Attécoubé and Abobo (25, 47).

Other incentives: In 2020, the World Bank approved a USD 315 million credit to Côte d'Ivoire to prevent flood risks and improve the quality of solid waste management in Abidjan and other cities (27).

Regulatory Environment

Decree No. 2013-327 on Plastic Waste bans the import, production, use, and sale of non-biodegradable plastic bags, aiming to reduce plastic waste. The ban includes penalties for polluters, with fines up to 1 million CFA francs (USD 1,650) (9, 29).

The new Environment Code, enacted in 2014, sets regulations for the recycling and elimination of waste. It notably enounces that burial of non-toxic waste can only take place after authorisation, and subject to compliance with the technical requirements and specific defined by decree (38).

Decree No. 2017-692 created the Agence Nationale de Gestion des Déchets (ANAGED) (National Waste Management Agency), whose purpose is to coordinate the actions of all key players in the waste management sector (37).

Order No. 2 MVSU (January 12th, 2010) mandates that the National Waste Management Agency (ANAGED) issues permits for the collection and transportation of private waste (50).

Ordinance No. 2019-1087 of December 18, 2019 includes the levying of several taxes on certain plastic products (24).

Marketplace Participants

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Private Sector

Recyclage.CI, Association Ivoirienne de valorisation des déchets plastiques (AVIP), AfricWaste, Veolia, Confédération Générale des Entreprises de Côte d’Ivoire (CGECI), Coliba, Recyplast, SN Kanian Technologies, ECOTI SA.

Government

Agence de gestion et de développement des infrastructures industrielles, Agence nationale de Gestion des Déchets, Centre ivoirien antipollution (CIAPOL), Agence Nationale de Salubrité Urbaine, Centre de Promotion des Investissements en Côte d’Ivoire (CEPICI).

Multilaterals

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank.

Non-Profit

Monde nouveau, Oceanography Research Center of Abidjan, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GiZ).

Public-Private Partnership

ECOTI.SA concluded a partnership in 2024 with the Ministry of Hydraulics, Sanitation, and Public Health (MINHAS) and the National Waste Management Agency (ANAGED) to contribute to waste collection and management during the Africa Cup of Nations, cleaning 7,250 km of road (41).

Target Locations

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country static map
urban

Côte d'Ivoire: District Autonome d'Abidjan

Waste recycling is critical in Abidjan, which has an annual production of 3 million tons a year. Rapid urbanization and low recycling rates have led to waste accumulation, provoking health hazards (51).
semi-urban

Côte d'Ivoire: Bas-Sassandra

Lake San Pedro is suffering from high levels of waste pollution, threatening 14 species of waterfowl, making San Pedro a crucial location for waste recycling. In addition, market potential is greater in large cities such as San Pedro, which offer economies of scale and infrastructures to support recycling activities (utilities, availability of water) (52).
urban

Côte d'Ivoire: District Autonome de Yamoussoukro

Over 90% of the lakes within the Yamoussoukro district are polluted. This pollution is directly responsible for the proliferation of water-borne diseases, including Buruli ulcer, among surrounding populations. Due to its rapid urbanization, Yamoussoukro has pressing needs for waste recycling (53).

References

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