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Local Factories : A new plastic waste recycling unit in Saint-Louis, Senegal
A strategic Plastic Odyssey x BANCO collaboration, supported by CLARINS and the French Embassy in Senegal
After two years of partnership in support of the expedition, CLARINS teams are now involved in the field projects developed by Plastic Odyssey Factories. This new challenge aims to recover plastic waste from the northern region of Senegal by setting up a recycling unit near the landfill site in the commune of Gandon near Saint-Louis.
This franchise unit, taken over by BANCO, a company specializing in the processing and upcycling of plastic waste and headed by Senegalese entrepreneur Boubacar Diakité, is essential to the success of the project. Founded in Saint-Louis, BANCO develops innovative solutions for reusing collected plastic and transforming it into urban and school furniture to meet local needs.
Patrick Parmentier, founder of BANCO:
“As over 10 million m3 of deforestation wood every year makes wood scarce and expensive, I then suggested considering available plastic as a raw material that would go from dirty and polluting to noble and useful.
We want to be an exemplary plant in social terms, respecting the safety and well-being of the fifteen or so workers who work there, as well as in terms of transition by using solar energy and purifying our water.
We have invested more than 150 million CFA with our Senegalese partners, not to mention the help of Plastic Odyssey, which is helping us with its advice and frankness”.
Plastic Odyssey Factories recycling units
They are designed to offer decentralized waste management adapted to local needs. Inspired by the expedition’s many stopovers, they have been developed by Plastic Odyssey engineers to offer a modular, low-tech solution.
Each unit is installed in a set of containers and runs on photovoltaic panels, guaranteeing optimum energy autonomy. Every year, this recycling chain transforms over 500 tonnes of plastic waste into sustainable products for construction and urban development.
Today, the ambition is to spread this model throughout Senegal and other regions of the world.
Setting up in Saint-Louis, Senegal
After several months of machine manufacturing, assembly and connection work, the containerized factory was deployed in the area by Plastic Odyssey Factories and has been in operation since February 2025.
The inauguration event took place on December 3, 2024. This rapid, efficient installation is a testament to the ability of the players involved to implement concrete, innovative solutions to respond rapidly to a targeted problem.
Three containers now house the machinery needed to transform plastic waste into high value-added materials and objects, including bench tables, litter garbage cans, public benches and garden furniture, thanks to plastic joinery. These new products contribute to the development of public spaces and schools, while promoting a local circular economy.
The plant is also equipped with a 30 kVA photovoltaic system, enabling it to cover 60% of its energy needs from a renewable source. In addition, a washing water treatment plant has been installed to limit environmental impact and optimize the use of resources. Designed with the circular economy in mind, the unit aims to minimize waste and maximize its energy and operational autonomy.
An ambition for the future
By combining innovation, local commitment and international cooperation, this pilot unit in Senegal is a first step towards the wider deployment of recycling units in the country’s various regions. The aim is to significantly increase plastic waste recovery capacity while generating local economic opportunities, notably through job creation.
Thanks to the support of CLARINS and institutional partners such as the French Embassy, this project illustrates a concrete, high-impact approach to combating plastic pollution.
Video of the inauguration
The Plastic Odyssey Local Factories are inspired by innovations and systems used on the ground around the world. They bring together, in the form of a container, all the machines necessary for the transformation of waste into new material or object.