Mozambique to invest US$23.5M in waste management

MOZAMBIQUE – The Mozambican government has unveiled plans to invest about 1.5 billion meticais (approximately US$23.5 million) in the construction of two modern landfills in the northern cities of Nampula and Nacala, a move aimed at tackling the country’s mounting waste and plastic pollution crisis.

According to Delfina Falume, the Nampula Provincial Director of Territorial Development and Environment, the project is slated to begin in 2026 and is awaiting final approvals.

She made the announcement during a World Cleanup Day roundtable at Unirovuma University under the theme “Let’s All Fight and Prevent Plastic Pollution.”

“There will be two landfills, one in Nampula and another in Nacala. The sites have already been identified, and technical studies for implementation are complete. We will create a central site for organized disposal, including a temporary storage area where waste will be sorted,” Falume explained.

The initiative will be financed by international partners, reflecting Mozambique’s increasing reliance on global support to address its waste management gaps.

Previous collaborations include funding from the World Bank and African Development Bank for urban sanitation projects, as well as technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in developing circular economy strategies.

Mozambique currently generates around 4.2 million tonnes of waste annually. Of this, approximately 17,000 tonnes of plastic are dumped into the Indian Ocean each year, while 116,000 tonnes are deposited in landfills, most of it untreated.

Poor waste management has led to clogged drainage systems, widespread flooding in urban areas, and health risks from uncollected waste.

Gustavo Dgedge, the Secretary of State for Land and Environment, emphasized the urgency of change.

“Only about one percent of plastic waste is currently recycled in Mozambique. These projects will help us transition away from unsustainable disposal practices and toward a more organized and environmentally responsible waste management system,” he noted.

The government hopes that the new landfills will not only reduce plastic leakage into the sea but also support waste sorting, recycling, and energy recovery initiatives.

This aligns with Mozambique’s commitments under the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the global push to reduce plastic pollution through the UN’s forthcoming Global Plastics Treaty.

By investing in modern waste facilities and strengthening partnerships, Mozambique aims to lay the foundation for a cleaner, healthier environment while building resilience against the environmental and health hazards posed by unmanaged waste.

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