Dakar, Senegal – July 2025

In markets across Dakar, shoppers are now bringing cloth bags and reusable jars instead of relying on plastic. Street vendors are switching to paper wraps. And local manufacturers are retooling their packaging.

This shift marks a new chapter in Senegal’s war on plastic. The government is not only enforcing its 2020 single-use plastic ban with new vigor, but also promoting a nationwide ethos: Refill. Reuse. Resist.

“We’re not just banning bags,” said Minister of Environment Alioune Ndoye, “we’re cultivating a new culture of sustainability that protects our land and sea.”

Under the renewed campaign, Senegal is:

• Banning imports of plastic cups, cutlery, and sachets

• Requiring supermarkets and wholesalers to offer eco-friendly alternatives

• Providing grants to small businesses shifting to biodegradable packaging

• Launching public education drives targeting schools and markets

While Senegal's initial 2020 law prohibited many plastics, enforcement had been spotty — until now. Following mounting public pressure and a surge in plastic pollution washing up along the Atlantic coast, the government has pledged to fully implement the law by 2026.

Senegal’s plastic crisis is stark. Each year, the country generates over 200,000 tons of plastic waste, much of it ending up in drains, fields, and oceans.

In coastal towns like Saint-Louis and Mbour, fishermen report turtles and fish entangled in plastic debris. In urban areas, clogged drainage systems worsen flooding during the rainy season.

But communities are now stepping up. Youth-led initiatives like “Zéro Déchet Dakar” are organizing beach clean-ups, reusable container swaps, and plastic-free pop-up markets.

“This is about African innovation, not imitation,” said activist Aissatou Fall, whose startup sells refillable hygiene and beauty products.

Critics argue that low-income households may struggle with the cost of reusable alternatives. In response, the government is rolling out subsidized starter kits and has partnered with local cooperatives to mass-produce reusable goods.

Senegal joins a growing number of African nations — including Rwanda, Kenya, and Morocco — leading the way in plastic policy.

As the country prepares to host West Africa’s first Regional Circular Economy Forum in late 2025, officials hope Senegal’s model can inspire wider action across the continent.

“This isn’t just environmental reform,” Minister Ndoye added. “It’s economic and cultural transformation.”