No time to waste: Improving waste management in African cities

Solid waste management (SWM) is an essential and foundational public utility service and right, with clear benefits for public health, sanitation, and livelihoods, and serious consequences when neglected. In African cities, SWM plays a uniquely critical role, given rapid urbanisation, dense informal settlements, and high rates of unemployment. It is both an urgent need and low low-hanging fruit for addressing broad sustainability outcomes.

This report advocates for cities to regain control of foundational infrastructure, particularly unmanaged dumpsites, and to prioritise landfill remediation tools and approaches. The report further calls for the improvement and adoption of efficient, lower cost and iterative waste collection and transfer systems to achieve more equitable and sustainable service coverage.