Helping shape Angola’s EPR thinking

Last month while working on the roll-out of the KOLEKT waste management app in Angola, an AfricaRise programme funded by the EU, Circular Action Director, Thierry Sanders, was invited by the National Waste Agency of Angola to assist with the country’s thinking regarding introducing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation. 

Calling on over a decade of experience by BVRio and Circular Action relating to circular economy, environmental credits and EPR, Thierry provided a 10 year plan into how recycling rates could be improved in the country, as well as the potential costs and revenue generation by charging producers for the collection and recycling of various different materials. 

At the heart of the solution is the countries’ estimated 140,000 waste pickers who have the experience and capacity to play a bigger role, and who could benefit greatly from EPR legislation being put in place. In Brazil, Vietnam and Mozambique the KOLEKT app is already being used by waste pickers to increase recycling rates and their income.

The EU AfricaRise programme in Angola and Mozambique aims to improve the efficiency
and transparency of waste collection for recycling via digital solutions. In Mozambique for
example, the recycler Topack is using the app to advertise their demand for HDPE and PET
plastics as well as registering all purchase transactions via the app.

Demonstrating how KOLEKT could support EPR, Thierry explained how the app provides proof of purchase of recyclables. Registering the seller, buyer, GPS location and photos helps recyclers to certify their contribution. Once independently audited, recyclers are able to sell these certificates to the companies producing the waste, in order for them to comply with legislation. These waste recovery certificates or ‘circular credits’, and they make recycling more lucrative, thereby generating more demand for recyclable materials and boosting the circular economy.