Senegal

Senegal faces significant challenges from plastic pollution, particularly in urban centers like Dakar, where plastic constitutes nearly 13% of the city’s annual solid waste. Mismanaged plastic waste contributes to clogged drainage systems, exacerbating flooding during rainy seasons, while also posing serious health risks, threatening biodiversity, and undermining key sectors like tourism and fisheries that are essential to the livelihoods of coastal communities.

To combat these issues, Senegal has implemented progressive measures, including a 2015 ban on single-use plastics, demonstrating the country's commitment to environmental sustainability. Innovative initiatives like the SUNU Plastic Odyssey project have been launched to recycle plastic waste into useful products, while entrepreneurial efforts are gaining momentum. Local businesses are turning plastic waste into paving stones and street furniture, addressing pollution while fostering economic growth and jobs creation. 

Together, these efforts reflect Senegal’s determination to reduce plastic pollution and promote a circular economy that benefits both the environment and its people.