It is estimated that Africa houses roughly 30 percent of the known global mineral reserves, and these desirable commodities have been extracted, and often exploited, for centuries. However, extracting those precious resources from the ground comes at an environmental cost that is increasingly coming under scrutiny and that is where circular thinking can play a huge part.

Africa is projected to be home to almost 2 billion people by 2040. To realize the climate goals, there is a need to significantly increase the recycling capacity. That’s the most effective way to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, is to recycle the critical metals lying in landfills. Of the 125million tons of solid waste generated every year, 70–80% of this waste is recyclable. However, the continent recycles only 4% of this total waste and lesser plastics.