- Over 840 tonnes of scrap metal processed, converting unmanaged waste into economic value
- More than 150 workers transitioned into safer, structured employment with higher income stability
- National Waste Exchange introduces QR-based tracking, strengthening transparency and circular economy governance
A once-neglected urban scrap site is now a functioning hub of economic activity, where waste is being converted into income, safer jobs, and a more structured recycling ecosystem. Backed by the International Labour Organization, a targeted intervention in the scrap metal sector is reshaping how waste is managed while improving livelihoods for more than 150 workers.
The transformation is visible on the ground. Over 840 tonnes of scrap metal have been collected and processed, while a site left in disrepair for over a decade has been rehabilitated into a safer, organised workspace. What was previously an informal, fragmented activity is evolving into a more coordinated and regulated sector.
“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.”
From Informal Labour to Structured Income
The initiative is part of a broader effort to formalise Cameroon’s ferrous waste collection and recycling sector. One of its most tangible outcomes has been the dismantling of 75 end-of-life vehicles, including buses and minibuses, carried out in collaboration with the National Union of Scrap Metal Workers.
Over a two-week period, four teams executed the operation, generating nearly 30 million CFA francs. For workers, the financial return is significant, but the shift in working conditions is equally important.
With access to protective equipment and training in occupational health and safety, workers are now able to operate more consistently and with lower risk. The project demonstrates that formalisation is not only a compliance exercise but a pathway to higher productivity and income stability.
“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.”
Digital Infrastructure Strengthens the Value Chain
Beyond the physical transformation of the site, Cameroon is introducing system-level reforms to support long-term sector growth. Central to this is the National Waste Exchange, a digital platform designed to track waste flows across the value chain.
Using QR codes and real-time tracking, the system ensures traceability from producers to recyclers. It improves transaction security, enhances transparency, and reduces inefficiencies that have historically limited the sector’s scalability.
The integration of digital tools into waste management reflects a broader governance shift. By formalising processes and improving data visibility, Cameroon is aligning its recycling sector with global expectations around circular economy practices and ESG accountability.
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Policy, Labour, and Climate Goals Converge
According to Claude Yao Kouame, the initiative illustrates how multiple transitions can be aligned within a single sector. “the changes underway in Cameroon highlight how formalization, green transition, and digitalization can work together to build a more inclusive and sustainable sector.”
The model combines labour formalisation with environmental management and digital infrastructure. It addresses worker protection, unlocks economic value from waste, and strengthens oversight mechanisms that are critical for investor confidence.
For policymakers, the project offers a replicable framework for integrating informal workers into formal systems without disrupting livelihoods. For investors, it signals the emergence of structured waste value chains that can support scalable, ESG-aligned opportunities.
A Scalable Model for Circular Economies
The International Labour Organization’s involvement reflects a wider push to transition informal economies into structured systems that deliver both social and environmental returns. In Cameroon, the early results are clear: improved working conditions, higher incomes, cleaner urban environments, and stronger institutional frameworks.
“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.”
For global ESG leaders, the implications extend beyond Cameroon. As cities across emerging markets confront rising waste volumes and informal labour challenges, integrated models that combine governance reform, digital tracking, and worker protections are likely to define the next phase of circular economy development.
The Yaoundé initiative demonstrates that with targeted investment and coordinated policy support, waste can shift from a public burden to a driver of inclusive growth.
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