The World Bank is spearheading efforts in addressing plastic pollution in West Africa through a Regional Action Plan on Plastics Management and Circular Economy, in collaboration with ECOWAS.
A two-day workshop, which was held in Accra from September 16th to17th, 2024 aimed at developing a sustainable and harmonised approach to managing plastic waste across the region. In her opening remarks, Operations Manager for the World Bank in Ghana, Michelle C. Keane, highlighted the urgency of tackling plastic waste as economies in West Africa continue to grow.
“As West African economies grow, so does the concerning surge of plastic waste in our rivers and along our coastlines,” she stated. “Plastic pollution severely impacts West
Africa’s economy, lives and livelihoods, with estimated costs ranging from US$10,000 to US$33,000 per ton of plastic waste,” she added.
Madam Keane emphasised the vulnerability of sectors such as fisheries, marine tourism and biodiversity to plastic pollution, stressing that “estimated social damages range from US$2,000 to US$7,000 per ton of plastic waste.” She called for united efforts from both
the public and private sectors to confront this challenge through effective plastic
management and circular economy initiatives. The World Bank, according to Madam
Keane, remains committed to supporting West Africa in this endeavor.
“Our support includes advocating for crucial policy reforms, establishing standards for recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, and conducting recycling pilots for fishing nets in Liberia,” she said. In addition, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes are being designed in Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone to ensure that producers are accountable for the lifecycle of their plastic products.
Madam Keane also highlighted grassroots efforts to empower local communities through waste management initiatives. “At the grassroots level, we are focused on increasing awareness and involving citizens in waste management, empowering them to take ownership of their environment,” she added. Notable initiatives include community based
recycling centers under the West Africa Coastal Areas Program (WACA) and the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project (GARID).
An environmental engineer at the World Bank, Ozgul Calicioglu, on her part emphasised
the urgency in addressing plastic waste, particularly in countries like Ghana, where beaches are heavily polluted. “What we are trying to achieve here is supporting ECOWAS, particularly the Commission, in harmonising actions by member states, including Ghana, to reduce the upstream flow of plastics that reach those beaches,” she said.
Beyond the visible pollution on coastlines, Madam Calicioglu stressed the broader environmental and health implications of unmanaged plastic waste. “Plastics cause problems by flooding, due to the drainage system clogging and there are other aspects of impact on the health of the citizens due to stagnated water and the risk of malaria transmission,” she explained.
According to Madam Calicioglu, harmonising, labeling, standards and promoting extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes could drive regional cooperation and ensure that the private sector takes on greater responsibility for managing plastic waste. She also highlighted the global dimension of the issue, noting that the United Nations Environment Programme is leading efforts to develop a global treaty on plastic pollution.
Looking ahead, Madam Calicioglu outlined the next steps for Ghana, including identifying the agencies responsible for implementing the action plan. “For Ghana, MESTI [Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation] is the key agency in coordinating with
the global treaty, but other institutions like the Ministry of Sanitation and the Environmental Protection Agency will also play significant roles,” she noted.
According to the World Bank, the issue of Plastic Pollution is compounded by rapid population growth and increasing plastic consumption across the region. By 2050, Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to be a major contributor to marine plastics, with mismanaged waste forecasted to triple. As of 2010, plastic mismanagement was already a critical issue and with current trends, the situation is set to worsen.
A particularly alarming example of this issue is the Cross River, one of the top-20 most polluted rivers globally, which flows through both Cameroon and Nigeria, contributing heavily to plastic waste in the region. The lack of efficient waste management systems exacerbates the issue, resulting in clogged drains that increase the risk of flooding, while also creating public health hazards, especially for informal waste pickers who rely on recycling for their livelihoods.
Economic and Environmental Consequences
The economic toll of plastic pollution is
staggering. The real cost of marine plastic pollution is estimated to be between $10,000 and $33,000 per tonne of plastic waste, according to an economic analysis presented by the World Bank.
Four key sectors—fishing and aquaculture, maritime tourism, shoreline property values, and biodiversity—bear the brunt of these costs, losing between $2,000 and $7,000 per tonne of plastic waste. Nigeria, the region’s most populous nation, generates an estimated 47 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with the packaging industry identified as the primary consumer and polluter.
This not only affects the local economy but also poses a major threat to ecosystems and biodiversity.
A Regional Framework for Action
The World Bank and its partners are advocating for a West African Regional Framework for Action on Plastics Management and Circular Economy. The goal is to develop a comprehensive, regionally coordinated response to plastic pollution. This includes implementing policies, improving data collection, and strengthening regional institutions to support the upcoming Global Plastics Treaty, which is expected to be finalized by 2024.
Key to the success of this initiative is collaboration among all stakeholders—governments,
private sector actors, and civil society.
National and Regional Planning
At the national level, countries are urged to align their policies on the generation, trade, disposal, and consumption of plastics. This will involve creating action plans that incorporate regional expertise and innovations. Investments are needed in infrastructure
to manage plastic waste, and countries must prioritize building capacity for effective implementation.
One example is the mobilization of $1 million to begin the process of drafting action plans with feedback from both topdown and bottom-up stakeholders. On a regional scale, integration efforts include sharing models like the “eco-organism” for waste management, cross-border trade of virgin plastic, and creating a common database to track plastic pollution trends and solutions. The long-term vision is a coordinated regional response that includes both public and private sector participation.
A Call to Action
The World Bank indicated that there is a growing recognition that this issue cannot be solved by one country alone. West African nations must unite in their efforts to combat plastic pollution, leveraging regional frameworks and global treaties to create sustainable, lasting change.
Following the two-day workshop, further consultations will be held with civil society, the private sector, and development partners to secure financing for the action plan. The workshop was part of a broader initiative funded by PROBLUE, a multi-donor umbrella trust fund supporting the Blue Economy. The regional action plan is being developed to align with the upcoming global, legally binding instrument on Plastics Pollution.
The two-day consultation workshop brought together key decision-makers from ECOWAS, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Civil Society Organisations and the private sector to discuss practical solutions for plastic management.
