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MOGADISHU, November 5, 2026 Somalia's cities generate more than 2,000 tonnes of waste a day, and Mogadishu hosted a forum asking a new question: What if that waste is an economic opportunity?
Organized by Horn Thrive Hub, Somalia's first Circular Economy Forum brought together environmental stakeholders, business leaders and international experts, including experts from Kenya, to explore turning discarded materials into valuable resources and viable businesses.
The forum, held on Wednesday, under the theme "Turning Waste into Resources and Economic Opportunities," focused on reducing waste, promoting reuse and strengthening recycling initiatives.
Its core message marks a shift from the traditional model of producing, consuming and disposing toward continuous use of materials through recycling, reuse and resource recovery.
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A central discussion was the potential of waste recycling to address unemployment, particularly among young people. As Somalia's cities grow, so does waste volume, but that also creates opportunity to establish businesses in waste collection, sorting, processing, recycling and production of reusable materials.
According to organizers, a stronger recycling industry could create employment, encourage entrepreneurship, attract private investment and support locally manufactured products.
A World Bank study cited in the information presented for this report indicates Somali cities generate more than 2,000 tonnes of waste daily, with each person producing approximately 0.5 kilograms per day — figures that highlight both the scale of the challenge and its economic potential.