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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone, has launched two major initiatives designed to overhaul the country’s waste management systems and promote a circular economy.
The projects, “Shifting to Zero Waste Against Pollution” (SWAP) and “Youth for Circularity 2030,” were unveiled on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Sierra Palms Resort in Freetown.
Tanzila Watta Sankoh, Team Lead for PC5D&R at UNDP Sierra Leone, disclosed that the SWAP project is a six-year program funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with a budget of USD 5.4 million. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-SL) and the Freetown City Council are key implementing partners.
In a significant development for the region, Sankoh also announced that the UNDP has secured funding from Samsung to pilot an electronic waste (e-waste) collection program in Sierra Leone. She noted this marks the first time the UNDP has mobilized resources from the global mobile technology giant for such an initiative, positioning the pilot as a foundation for future resource mobilization.
Delivering the keynote address, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Kelvin Petrini described the launch as a “defining moment” for Freetown, which is grappling with rapid urbanization.
Petrini reported that the capital city currently generates over 135,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste annually. Without intervention, this figure is projected to exceed 350,000 tonnes by 2030.
“Poor waste management has contributed to pollution of land and waterways, blocked drainage systems, increased flood risks, and serious public health concerns,” Petrini warned, citing major dumping sites at Granville Brook and Kingtom as critical areas of concern.
He explained that SWAP is part of a broader USD 28 million global program implemented in five pilot cities worldwide. The initiative aims to reposition waste as a resource capable of generating jobs and economic opportunities through recycling and recovery.
Abu Bakarr Massaquoi, Executive Chairperson of the EPA, acknowledged the persistent failures in the current system, citing “weak household-level segregation, limited incentives, poor enforcement, and the dominance of informal value chains.”
Massaquoi revealed that the agency is exploring the establishment of an integrated chemical and waste management facility. This hub would handle hazardous waste, storage, and treatment while serving as a center for learning and innovation. He emphasized that the EPA has already developed a national waste inventory, integrating data from a World Bank-supported e-waste survey completed last year.
Dr. Samba Sesay, speaking on behalf of the Faculty of Engineering at Fourah Bay College, argued that Sierra Leone must abandon its linear “extract, consume, and dispose” model.
“The circular economy offers a viable alternative by promoting resource efficiency, recycling, material recovery, and innovation,” Sesay said, noting that the SWAP initiative aligns with the country’s National Medium-Term Development Plan.
Freetown Deputy Mayor Kweku M. Lisk endorsed the project as a vital component of the city’s climate action efforts. Meanwhile, Osman Fenfaquee, a student representing the youth sector, highlighted the need for practical education on waste sorting and the potential for digital solutions to improve waste reporting and flood mitigation.
The inception meeting concluded with stakeholders agreeing to align interventions toward a shared vision of zero waste and reduced pollution across Sierra Leone.
