Plastic peril in Senegal: ADES presents a stark assessment and demands the implementing decrees of the 2020 law

On the occasion of World Plastic Bag Free Day, the Alliance of Ecologists of Senegal (ADES) has spoken out to denounce the continued proliferation of plastic waste across the country. In an official statement signed this Friday, July 3, 2026, in Dakar by its president, Baye Salla Mar, the environmental party is sounding the alarm. Six years after the passage of Law No. 2020-04 of January 8, 2020, which replaced a 2015 law deemed too inadequate, the situation on the ground remains particularly dire.

However, this new regulation introduced major innovations towards a circular economy, such as the total ban on plastic bags, the prohibition of various single-use products, the deposit system for bottles, and the implementation of extended producer responsibility. Despite this regulatory tightening and the official closure of borders, ADES observes that the problem persists. Plastic bags continue to clog waterways and disfigure urban, coastal, and rural landscapes, severely impacting health, agriculture, and biodiversity.

Systemic shortcomings and alarming statistics

To explain this failure, environmentalists point to a series of structural shortcomings. They denounce, in particular, the critical absence of implementing decrees essential for the law's operationalization, the lack of resources for enforcement agents in the regions, and the development of clandestine production units. The party also highlights a lack of prior consultation with manufacturers in the sachet water sector, as well as a glaring dearth of alternative products and incentives to support the conversion of small and medium-sized enterprises. Added to this are a lack of institutional communication and weak public engagement with environmental issues.

Behind this empirical observation, the national and international figures brandished by the party confirm the scale of the crisis. Globally, plastic production reached 460 million tons in 2019, generating a critical mass of waste, of which less than 10% is recycled. At the national level, Senegal generates more than 193,000 tons of plastic waste each year, with a paltry recycling rate that has stagnated at only 8,000 tons. The Dakar region alone produces approximately 99,700 tons of this waste annually, 78% of which consists of disposable packaging.

ADES' call to action for a comprehensive response

Believing that a systemic problem absolutely requires a comprehensive solution, ADES is making strong demands of state authorities. The party urges the government to conduct a thorough evaluation of the effectiveness of the 2020 law and to sign all its implementing decrees without delay. The environmentalists also advocate laying the groundwork for constructive dialogue with all stakeholders and fostering, in partnership with the private sector, a genuine waste recovery industry.

The statement also urges sachet water manufacturers to anticipate their transition by investing now in the opportunities offered by biodegradable packaging. Finally, President Baye Salla Mar appeals to the sense of responsibility of every citizen, inviting them to adopt a culture of recycling from the ground up, to reduce their use of disposable items, and to make a profound change in behavior to live in harmony with the environment.