As catches dwindle, Congo River fishermen turn to plastic waste

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day, reviewed by our editorial team. Read the full piece on RFI or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Some fishermen around Kinshasa now earn more collecting plastic from the Congo River than catching fish
• Charles Moluwa, after 60 years of fishing, stores up to 150 kilos at home and sells it to recycling companies for roughly $80 a week, against the $10 to $20 some fishers now earn from catches, down from around $100 a decade ago

🔭 The context: Kinshasa, a city of over 17 million, generates about 12,000 tonnes of waste daily, of which roughly 98% is openly dumped or burnt, per the World Bank in April 2026
• Less than 20% of the city's waste is properly treated. A UNICEF assessment found some rivers had been transformed into garbage waterways overrun by plastic
• DRC banned plastic packaging in 2017, but the ban excluded bottles

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The Congo River yields more than 60,000 tonnes of fish annually and supports millions of livelihoods, but a 2023 study of Congo Basin small-scale fisheries found steep declines over half a century
• Overfishing is a major documented factor as fishers attribute the change to plastic
• Dumped waste also blocks storm drains and worsens flooding during heavy rain, according to Governor Daniel Bumba

⏭️ What's next: The World Bank approved a $250 million Kinshasa Urban Transformation and Jobs Program in April 2026, partly targeting solid waste management
• DRC's planning ministry completed a feasibility study for an integrated waste project in May, and a zero plastic bottles campaign launched in January

💬 One quote: "There is more plastic than fish in the water now. There are used baby diapers, juice bottles… It's sad" — Jilby Mwanufioti, fisherman, Kinshasa, after 40 years on the river.

📈 One stat: Weekly fishing income down to $10–$20 from around $100 a decade ago, against $80 a week collecting plastic.

Subscribe to our free newsletters to never miss a beat in sustainability.

The world needs sustainability knowledge. At illuminem, no interest group or shareholder can influence our work. Thank you for supporting our mission to make high-quality and independent sustainability information free for all. Every contribution helps. Thank you for donating today