Waste Management Can Catalyse Economic Transformation of Africa, Says Boroffice

Olawale Ajimotokan 

The founder of Chanja Datti, a waste management firm, Olufunto Boroffice has challenged conventional perceptions of waste, describing it as a resource capable of driving economic transformation across African cities such as Lagos, Nairobi, Cairo, and Johannesburg. 

She disclosed this in her presentation at the annual conference hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Kuo Sharper Center, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, themem, “Innovation in Global Growth Markets: Prosperity through Entrepreneurship.”

She noted that Africa is emerging as a critical driver of the global transition to a circular economy, with innovations in waste management, climate action and inclusive entrepreneurship placing the continent at the forefront of sustainable development.

She highlighted a growing ecosystem of entrepreneurs who are converting plastic, organic waste, and other materials into valuable products, creating jobs while addressing environmental challenges.

According to Boroffice, these efforts reflected a broader shift toward a circular economy—one that prioritizes reuse, repair and regeneration over the traditional “take, make, dispose” model.

She noted that while Africa contributes less than four percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is among the regions most affected by climate change, citing droughts, flooding, and rising sea levels across the continent.

She noted that nearly half of global emissions are linked to how goods are produced and consumed, arguing that circular systems offer a major opportunity to reduce environmental impact.  “The climate crisis is not a future threat. It is a present emergency,” she said.

Boroffice also referenced the role of informal workers, including waste pickers and recyclers, who recover between 50 and 80 per cent of recyclable materials in some cities, often without formal support or recognition.

She said the workers who are central to Africa’s circular economy be included and empowered through government policies.