In Yaoundé, a scrap metal recycling initiative is transforming waste into employment opportunities and safer working conditions, demonstrating how the sector can evolve into a source of dignity and sustainable livelihoods. Supported by the International Labour Organization, the project has helped clean up a long-neglected urban site, generate income, and improve working conditions for more than 150 workers.
The initiative has led to the collection of over 840 tonnes of scrap metal while rehabilitating an area that had remained in disrepair for more than a decade. Workers now operate in a safer and more organized environment, reflecting a broader shift toward formalization in a sector traditionally dominated by informal practices. This transformation highlights how structured interventions can convert waste management into a driver of decent jobs and economic opportunity.
Implemented under a project focused on formalizing the ferrous waste collection and recycling sector, the initiative has delivered tangible economic benefits. A key milestone was the dismantling of 75 end-of-life vehicles, including buses and minibuses, in collaboration with the National Union of Scrap Metal Workers. Over two weeks, four teams of workers carried out the operation, generating nearly 30 million CFA francs.
For workers, however, the impact goes beyond financial gains. With access to protective equipment and training on occupational health and safety, they are now able to work more consistently and with reduced risk of injury. These improvements demonstrate how better organization and investment in worker safety can enhance productivity while increasing incomes.
The project also reflects a wider structural shift in Cameroon, where the waste sector is gradually becoming more organized, safer, and more recognized. This transition is being reinforced by the introduction of a national digital system, the National Waste Exchange, which ensures traceability of waste through a unified platform using QR codes and real-time tracking. The system improves transparency, secures transactions, and strengthens connections across the value chain—from producers to recyclers.
According to Claude Yao Kouame, the changes underway in Cameroon highlight how formalization, green transition, and digitalization can work together to build a more inclusive and sustainable sector. By supporting both on-the-ground workers and broader institutional reforms, the initiative is helping create safer jobs and long-term economic opportunities.
Through its efforts, the International Labour Organization continues to promote decent work by facilitating the transition from informal to formal economies. The impact of this project is evident in improved working conditions, increased income, environmental cleanup, and the promotion of a circular economy.
The experience in Yaoundé shows that waste, when properly managed, can become a valuable resource—not only for environmental sustainability but also for job creation and social inclusion. It also underscores a broader lesson: with the right support, green and digital transitions can generate secure employment, strengthen workers’ rights, and contribute to a more equitable and sustainable economy.
