Introduction

Recycling is generally presented as one of the solutions to protecting the environment. Yet in Africa, a significant part of recycling relies on informal workers who recover materials under conditions that can be extremely dangerous. This phenomenon is particularly visible in the electronic waste sector. A study published in 2025 on Accra, Ghana, reveals a paradox: informal recycling creates jobs and provides income for many people, but it also exposes workers and nearby communities to significant pollution.

Those Recovering the Resources the World Needs

Phones, computers, cables, household appliances, and other electronic equipment contain valuable materials that can be recovered. For thousands of workers, this waste therefore represents a source of income. The problem arises when material recovery is carried out without protective equipment, appropriate facilities, or safe and suitable methods.

When the Circular Economy Becomes Toxic

In Accra, some operations involve burning objects containing plastic in order to recover metals. Researchers have observed significant concentrations of fine particulate matter around certain informal recycling activities. Workers can therefore be exposed to substantial air pollution while participating in an activity generally described as “environmentally friendly.” This is where the paradox lies: an activity can benefit the environment while simultaneously endangering the people who carry it out.

A Green Transition That Must Also Be Social

The green transition is often measured through the amount of waste recycled, emissions avoided, or materials recovered. However, a truly circular economy should also assess the working conditions of those who make this recovery possible. A study published in 2026 on Accra highlights precisely this issue, showing that circular economy policies risk overlooking social inequalities when they fail to take informal workers into account.

Recognize Rather Than Exclude

The solution does not necessarily lie in removing informal workers from the sector. It may be more effective to gradually integrate them into better organized systems, with protective equipment, training, appropriate infrastructure, and greater recognition of their work.

Conclusion

Africa should not have to choose between protecting the environment and protecting workers. A truly green economy must be able to achieve both. Recycling a phone while dangerously exposing the person dismantling it is not a complete ecological transition. The real challenge, therefore, is to build a circular economy in which the planet is protected without workers becoming the hidden price of that protection.

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