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<p>Ethiopia is the second largest importer of plastic raw materials in the East and Central African countries, with consumption increasing due to urbanization and economic growth. Despite this growth, effective plastic waste management remains a critical challenge, particularly in Addis Ababa, where mismanaged plastic poses risks to human health and ecosystems. This study combined the Waste Flow Diagram and the Waste Wise Cities Tool to quantify the plastic waste leakage and trace its environmental pathway in data-scarce urban context. Field surveys and stakeholder interviews were carried out in wet and dry seasons to gather data. Findings show that Addis Ababa generates 118,400 t of plastic waste annually, of which each resident contributes an estimated 1.72&#xa0;kg/capita/year of plastic leakage to aquatic systems. Although 87.3% of plastic waste is collected, the remainder is mismanaged: 62% remain on land, 29% enter water bodies, and 6% are burnt openly. Disposal facilities contribute to 53% of mismanaged waste, while informal recycling recovers only 1%, indicating limited integration of the informal sector relative to findings reported for some other African cities. Scenario modelling suggests that leakage would be reduced by 4,600 tons per year by diverting half of the unmanaged waste. This suggests the need for implementation of circular economy strategies, with special focus on improving disposal sites management and the integration of the informal recycling sector to reduce leakage and enhance sustainability.</p>

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Plastic Waste Leakage Quantification and Mapping its Environmental Pathway Towards Circular Economy Transition

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月29日

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  • Teklu Hailu,
  • Seblework Mekonen,
  • Argaw Ambelu

摘要

Ethiopia is the second largest importer of plastic raw materials in the East and Central African countries, with consumption increasing due to urbanization and economic growth. Despite this growth, effective plastic waste management remains a critical challenge, particularly in Addis Ababa, where mismanaged plastic poses risks to human health and ecosystems. This study combined the Waste Flow Diagram and the Waste Wise Cities Tool to quantify the plastic waste leakage and trace its environmental pathway in data-scarce urban context. Field surveys and stakeholder interviews were carried out in wet and dry seasons to gather data. Findings show that Addis Ababa generates 118,400 t of plastic waste annually, of which each resident contributes an estimated 1.72 kg/capita/year of plastic leakage to aquatic systems. Although 87.3% of plastic waste is collected, the remainder is mismanaged: 62% remain on land, 29% enter water bodies, and 6% are burnt openly. Disposal facilities contribute to 53% of mismanaged waste, while informal recycling recovers only 1%, indicating limited integration of the informal sector relative to findings reported for some other African cities. Scenario modelling suggests that leakage would be reduced by 4,600 tons per year by diverting half of the unmanaged waste. This suggests the need for implementation of circular economy strategies, with special focus on improving disposal sites management and the integration of the informal recycling sector to reduce leakage and enhance sustainability.