The Republic of Benin has formalized its Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) to place circularity at the center of economic growth, aiming to enhance national competitiveness, resilience, and sustainable development. Launched on 5 February 2026 with support from the African Development Bank’s African Circular Economy Facility, the plan aligns with Benin’s Vision 2060 Alafia, emphasizing both environmental management and economic transition. The country has already made notable progress, recycling 70 percent of materials from old roads and reprocessing 90 percent of wastewater from textile factories in the Glo-Djigbe economic zone.
The CEAP sets ambitious targets for 2035, including achieving 25 percent recycling, full urban waste collection and up to 60 percent in rural areas, training 15,000 citizens, and supporting 300 circular businesses, up from the current 19. The African Development Bank has committed to helping Benin translate the plan into measurable outcomes, with particular attention to fostering local innovation and engaging young entrepreneurs.
Benin faces significant waste challenges, producing 50,000 tonnes of plastic annually and around 1,700 tonnes of municipal waste daily, which affect public health, the economy, and urban planning. In response, municipalities have begun implementing local circular solutions with tangible benefits. In Avrankou, recycled biomass filters now provide 85 percent of households with improved drinking water. Nikki has converted cottonseed hulls into biogas for hundreds of homes, Bassila turns organic waste into fertilizer using local digesters, and Abomey-Calavi transforms market waste into compost and biogas. These initiatives demonstrate how circular practices are improving daily life, food security, water access, employment, and climate action.
Through the CEAP, Benin joins 22 other members of the African Circular Economy Alliance in promoting sustainable development that safeguards natural resources while generating economic and social opportunities.
