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10 African countries with the highest plastic waste production
Plastic waste remains one of the largest environmental concerns we face in the 21st century as the long-term effects continue to wreak slow-but-certain havoc on an environment in multiple ways. But which countries are responsible for the highest quantities of plastic pollution?
A recent report drawing on World Bank data and published in the journal Science Advances suggests that the US and UK produce more plastic waste per person than any other major country.
The report shows that the US exports over half of the plastic waste collected for recycling to other countries with poor waste management systems like India or places in Africa.
Meanwhile, Egypt generates over 3 million metric tonnes of plastic waste in Africa annually. Egypt was also the largest producer of plastic waste in the Arab world and the largest source of plastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.
Collectively, the top five plastic waste producers in Africa generate an astonishing 10 million metric tones of plastic per year. So who are the top 10?
The 10 countries with the highest total plastic waste production, measured in metric tons.
- Egypt – 3,037,675
- Algeria – 2,092,007
- Nigeria – 1,659,502
- South Africa – 1,425,323
- Kenya – 1,279,843
- DR Congo – 1,078,892
- Tanzania – 814,511
- Angola – 651,928
- Uganda – 636,506
- Morocco – 570,102
