Sierra Leone is moving toward the implementation of its first solar waste management pilot following a five-day benchmarking mission to Spain. The mission, conducted from September 21 to 25, 2026, brought together representatives from key government institutions, regulatory bodies, and academic institutions. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) facilitated the mission under the European Union-funded Salone Off-Grid Renewable Energy Acceleration (SOGREA) project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy.
The benchmarking exercise aims to provide the technical foundation for launching Sierra Leone's first solar waste management pilot. The country continues to expand access to off-grid renewable energy, and authorities are seeking systems to ensure that solar panels, batteries, and other equipment can be collected, treated, and recovered in an environmentally sound manner. The mission examined international approaches to circular economy models, electronic waste regulation, producer responsibility, waste collection, and recovery systems.
Spain was selected for the benchmarking mission due to its established waste management framework, which includes systems aligned with the European Union's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. The Sierra Leone delegation held technical engagements with several Spanish institutions, including ECOLEC, Spain's Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), and FCC Medio Ambiente.
During the visit, the delegation examined legislative oversight, institutional coordination, waste logistics, treatment infrastructure, and operational models. They also engaged with the Unión Española Fotovoltaica (UNEF) on solar market growth, producer compliance, and industry stewardship. Visits to the Centre for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT) provided opportunities to examine laboratory applications and technology transfer.
The lessons from the mission are expected to directly inform Work Package 7 of the SOGREA project, which covers the pilot phase of solar waste management in Sierra Leone. The pilot will be aligned with the Environmental Protection Agency's strategic goal of developing an Integrated Waste Management Facility at Masiaka. The initiative supports Sierra Leone's efforts to increase the use of off-grid solar technology and expand access to electricity.
The planned solar waste management pilot is expected to provide a practical basis for Sierra Leone to develop a more structured approach to renewable energy waste. This approach will link the growth of the solar sector with environmental protection and resource recovery. The SOGREA project is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNOPS in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone.
The benchmarking mission is expected to produce three major outputs: a comprehensive Benchmarking Mission Report, a National Action Matrix, and specialised Policy and Technical Guidance. These documents will set out institutional responsibilities and operational timelines while providing technical input into Sierra Leone's national Solar Waste Management Framework, proposed business models, and technical training curricula.
Key points
- The benchmarking mission to Spain aimed to develop systems for managing end-of-life solar panels and equipment in Sierra Leone.
- The planned solar waste management pilot will be aligned with the Environmental Protection Agency's strategic goal of developing an Integrated Waste Management Facility at Masiaka.
- The SOGREA project is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNOPS in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone.
