By Fatimoh Ayinke, Correspondent, Circular Economy – BFA News
September 24, 2025 — Accra
Africa generates over 2.9 million tons of e-waste annually, much of it ending up in informal dumpsites like Agbogbloshie in Ghana. But investors now see what scavengers have long known: discarded electronics are a hidden goldmine.
Copper, silver, and rare earth metals extracted from e-waste are fueling a new wave of urban mining. The World Economic Forum estimates that Africa’s e-waste economy could be worth $3.2 billion by 2030.
“E-waste is the new oil,” said Kwame Owusu, founder of Ghana-based startup GreenLoop. “It is dirty today, but with the right technology, it could power Africa’s clean tomorrow.”
Startup Surge
GreenLoop has raised $12 million to pilot safe recycling technologies that recover metals from discarded phones and laptops. In Nigeria, Envirocycle is building a $40 million e-waste processing facility in Lagos, one of Africa’s largest.
Policy Momentum
Governments are stepping in. The African Union recently launched the E-Waste Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Framework, requiring manufacturers to take back end-of-life electronics.
Global Investors
Multinationals are also circling. Japanese and European firms are exploring joint ventures in Africa to secure critical minerals for global supply chains.
Yet, the sector faces hurdles: informal recycling dominates, often exposing workers to toxic chemicals. Advocates call for policies that integrate informal collectors into formal systems.