WFP Ethiopia turns waste into gains, for the planet and its budget

Only 9% of plastics are recycled globally on an annual basis ¹. Not to mention the countless other materials that end up in landfills, uncontrolled dumpsites, burned in open pits or leaked into the environment, despite advancements in technology that make it possible to turn waste such as used tires and engine oil into new products. 

Proper recycling of materials entails many challenges, including the limited presence of recycling facilities, transportation and storage logistics, ability to sort and clean the used materials, and economic viability. Despite these common challenges, WFP Ethiopia’s country office successfully enacted an ambitious waste management scheme based on careful planning and negotiation.

WFP started implementing the plan in 2018, and in 2023 was able to recycle 326,672 kg of waste, generating a revenue of 60,000 USD. In 2024 WFP recycled a total of 809,073 kg generating a revenue of 164,154 USD. To date, over one million kilograms of waste have been sustainably recycled through four long-term recycling agreements with local recyclers, with two more agreements on the way. 

WFP’s efforts over the last five years demonstrate a remarkable commitment to environmental sustainability while highlighting the massive benefits that sustainability can bring. 

The Road to Long-Term Agreements

Recycling over 1 million kg of waste has not been an easy task. WFP Ethiopia’s environmental sustainability team began by reaching out to local governments to acquire a list of all recycling companies in the country. After opening a general expression of interest to every facility and sourcing recommendations from the Regional Bureau in Nairobi, the team then compiled an initial list of recycling providers for review. 

After launching a formal tendering and vetting process, a condensed list was produced through a thorough technical and financial evaluation. To further de-risk the process, physical visits were conducted by WFP Ethiopia supply chain and procurement experts to each of the recycling facilities, to ensure that proper protocols were followed at each site. These assessments are an important part of the process. For example, used tyres may be sold for reuse rather than being recycled, breaching safety regulations. WFP also assesses labor standards, confidentiality when disposing of sensitive UN material, and quality control as part of an end-to-end process to ensure transparency, safety and effectiveness of the entire recycling life cycle.    

Following the robust de-risking process, the sustainability team negotiated and secured four long-term agreements, each lasting three years. The current long-term agreements cover the recycling of engine oil, polypropylene bags, plastic jerricans, used tyres, e-waste, used batteries, paper and cardboard. Some of these materials require great care and effort to recycle; for instance, polypropylene bags and jerricans need to be cleaned before recycling. 

Circular Economy and Local Partnerships

By recycling end-of-life items, WFP is contributing to the local circular economy. The recycling industry in Ethiopia is still in its early stages, meaning a limited number of suitable recycling companies can be considered. Despite this challenge, WFP continues to build relationships with local recyclers to improve their capacity and quality, and to bolster UN engagement with local partners. The large volume of waste involved in this initiative boosted the development of local recycling industries in Ethiopia, which WFP hopes will only continue to grow. 

Just the Beginning

In securing long-term recycling agreements, WFP Ethiopia has ensured that this initiative will continue and bear fruit for years to come, securing both monetary and sustainability benefits. Two additional long-term agreements are being finalized to cover plastic pallets and oil tins. Simultaneously, the office is implementing measures to reduce waste generation in the first place, for example switching almost entirely to a digital record keeping system. 

WFP Ethiopia’s environmental sustainability team hopes that their recycling initiative can serve as a model for others to follow, creating similar agreements with local recyclers that can be leveraged, where possible, by other UN entities.

Article written by Ilektra Papadaki and Zoe Thierfelder (UNEP, SUN facility) based on input and interviews with Selam Teka, Gladys Owino, Jacinta Wokabi, Emily Jakaila and Andy Cole of the World Food Programme (WFP).