Turning waste into opportunity: Sustainable solutions for South Sudan

Imagine a place where waste isn’t just rubbish, but a lifeline. In South Sudan’s bustling camps of Bentiu and Malakal, over 218,000 people displaced by conflict and floods face daily challenges, and waste management is critical. But what if that waste could be turned into opportunity?

Earlier this year, WasteAid joined forces with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to make that vision a reality. Together, we completed an assessment that looks at how we can transform waste from a problem into a valuable resource that can improve health, support livelihoods and build a brighter, cleaner future.

 

 

The waste landscape in Bentiu and Malakal

Every month, more than 1,800 cubic metres of waste is collected across IOM-supported camps in Bentiu and Malakal. This waste includes kitchen scraps, garden clippings, plastics, textiles and metals. Managed by IOM through regular collection and transportation to the dumpsite, the waste is currently piling up. Located just north of the camps, this dumpsite is prone to open burning, which releases harmful gases and poses serious health risks for nearby communities. Occasional levelling of waste by UN machinery can only go so far – what’s needed is a way to actively reduce and reuse waste before it becomes a burden.  It is for this reason IOM reached out to WasteAid.to assess what could be done.

 

Analysing waste to uncover potential

WasteAid joined forces with IOM to conduct a detailed waste analysis and composition study. What we found was both promising and challenging: a large proportion of the waste generated is biodegradable, such as food and garden waste, while the rest includes plastics, textiles and metals. Although some local youth pick through waste to salvage what they can, there’s no organised recycling happening yet. With waste volumes expected to reach over 42,000 tonnes in Bentiu alone by 2024, this is an opportunity waiting to be tapped.

 

Exploring recycling potential

Turning waste into something valuable requires more than just a desire to recycle – it needs infrastructure, market access and demand for recycled products. In Bentiu and Malakal, the isolation, limited electricity and transport challenges make it tough to reach broader markets. But there are options to be explored. Biodegradable waste, plastics, textiles and metals could all play a role in small-scale recycling efforts that bring big benefits to these displaced communities.  Going into 2025, we will be looking further at how this can be progressed.

 

Designing local solutions: Our pilot projects

Based on our experiences in The Gambia, South Africa and Uganda, we know we can support livelihoods and create sustainable local businesses in other contexts, but this is the first time we have assessed whether this can be done in such an environment. Together with IOM, we’ll continue exploring with local collector groups to divert biodegradable waste to IOM’s Sludge2Briquettes project, turning waste into fuel, and we’ll be exploring ways to feed plastic waste into the Plastic4Bricks project, potentially transforming plastic into building materials for local use.

 

Our approach includes everything from setting up infrastructure and identifying collectors to training people in both technical and business skills, waste segregation and monitoring. By creating sustainable livelihoods and grass roots businesses amongst displaced communities, we’re tackling the waste crisis, promoting climate resilience and creating economic opportunity in locations where this is often scarce.

 

Looking forward

Our collaboration with IOM in South Sudan is paving the way for sustainable, circular economy solutions in Bentiu and Malakal and perhaps building a replicable model that can be implemented in other displaced camps.  By transforming waste from a burden into an opportunity, we’re working to improve local health, create green jobs and show that sustainable waste solutions are possible even in the most challenging settings. This is more than waste management – it’s about helping displaced communities who are facing incredible hardship create brighter, greener futures.