How SENDRA is handling abandoned vehicles in Dakar

Mame Coumba, SENDRA’s Head of Automotive Recycling and Valorisation, pictured in a blue shirt and headscarf — Mame Coumba

SENDRA tackles Dakar’s abandoned vehicles by running a formal impound-to-dismantling pathway with municipalities: cars are collected from streets, held for a 90-day legal claim period, then depolluted, dismantled for reusable parts, and sold through parts and metals channels. Progress is constrained by policy gaps, low public awareness, and limited access to finance.

Mame Coumba, Head of the Automotive Recycling and Valorisation Department, from SENDRA, based in Senegal, West Africa, provides an overview of how the company is building a formal end-of-life vehicle (ELV) dismantling and recycling operation in Dakar, from municipal collections and a 90-day impound process to depollution, parts reuse and metals sales, and explains the policy, awareness and financing hurdles still facing a professional ELV sector in the region.

From abandoned vehicles to a regulated dismantling centre in Dakar

SENDRA (Sénégalaise de Déconstruction Automobile, or Senegalese Automobile Dismantling Company) was established in 2020 with the ambition of becoming Senegal’s first official vehicle dismantling and recycling centre. The idea emerged from a simple but alarming observation: the growing number of abandoned or wrecked vehicles littering Dakar’s streets. These vehicles not only polluted the environment but also obstructed traffic and posed safety risks to residents.

Tow trucks transport impounded vehicles at night on a road in Dakar

Workers sort and dismantle end-of-life vehicles at SENDRA’s processing yard in Dakar

Wide view of dismantled vehicle shells and materials staged for recovery at SENDRA’s site

Stripped vehicle interior and body shell during dismantling at SENDRA’s Dakar site

Dakar is a highly populated and dynamic city, and with its growing population comes a rapid increase in vehicles. Most of which are aging and near the end of their life cycle.

We therefore began by partnering with local municipalities to handle the collection of abandoned or illegally parked vehicles. SENDRA manages the impound service, and once the legal 90-day period has passed without an owner claim, the vehicles are sent to our dismantling and recycling facility.

Our goal in creating a formal, regulated recycling centre was to professionalize and industrialize a sector that had been entirely informal until now. We also wanted to create sustainable jobs, especially for young graduates from Senegal’s many technical institutes, and to build an African recycling model that meets international environmental and safety standards.

Workers dismantle vehicle shells by hand in SENDRA’s ELV yard in Dakar

Dismantled vehicle shells and removed components laid out at SENDRA’s facility

Inside SENDRA’s workflow: impound, depollution and parts-to-metal sales

Our recycling process begins with the collection of end-of-life or abandoned vehicles from public streets, in collaboration with local authorities. Once collected, vehicles are held in our impound facility for the legally required 90 days. During this period, the legal and administrative procedures are completed before the vehicles are transferred to our dismantling centre.

The first technical step is depollution, which involves removing all hazardous materials, such as oils, fuels, batteries, and fluids, in full compliance with environmental standards.

SENDRA crew in high-visibility vests oversees vehicle collection onto a flatbed truck

Operative cuts a vehicle body shell during dismantling, with sparks visible

Next, reusable parts are carefully dismantled, cleaned, and sorted for resale. The remaining vehicle body is then cut and separated by material type.

We currently operate through two main sales channels:

Reused spare parts, which are highly in demand in Senegal due to the high cost and long import times for new parts.
Metal materials, which are sold to nearby processing and transformation plants.

The market potential for green, reused parts in Senegal remains very strong. Most vehicle owners prefer second-hand parts because they are affordable and readily available, and we believe that with better organization and certification, this market could become a pillar of sustainable mobility in West Africa.

Stacked vehicle shells loaded onto a flatbed truck for transport from the yard

Crane truck loads stacked vehicle shells at SENDRA’s ELV processing site in Dakar

Policy gaps, low awareness and limited finance slow sector progress

Our biggest challenges come from three areas:

government policy,
public awareness,
and financing.

From a policy standpoint, the government has not yet fully recognized the potential of this emerging industry. For instance, the age limit for imported used vehicles was recently raised from 8 to 10 years, which means lower-quality and shorter-lifespan cars will continue to flood the market, increasing the number of abandoned vehicles in the coming years.

Public awareness is another major challenge. Vehicle impoundment and recycling are still new concepts for many Senegalese citizens. It will take time for people to understand that end-of-life vehicle recycling is not a punishment but a public service that improves safety, mobility, and environmental health. SENDRA sometimes faces legal disputes, particularly from informal street mechanics or owners whose abandoned cars were removed and later scrapped after long periods of inactivity.

Finally, access to financing remains very limited. Banks and investors are still cautious about this sector, even though vehicle recycling has proven to be a profitable and sustainable industry worldwide. We believe that with the right support, this sector could generate significant economic and environmental benefits in Senegal.

Partnerships that set the rules of the road — from municipalities to European know-how

Our collaboration with local authorities has been essential in giving legal structure and

legitimacy to our operations. Municipalities provide support staff during vehicle collection campaigns, ensuring that every action we take is transparent and compliant with regulations.

At the same time, we have drawn inspiration from recycling centres and end-of-life vehicle treatment facilities in Europe, especially in France and Italy, by studying their organization, strengths, and challenges. This international exchange has helped us adapt best practices to the Senegalese context, striking a balance between high standards and local realities.

These collaborations have not only shaped our technical processes but also strengthened our commitment to professionalism, safety, and environmental stewardship.

Scaling up: a larger ELV site, more remanufacturing, and stronger policy support

In the short term, we are expanding our operations by acquiring a larger end-of-life vehicle (ELV) facility with distinct areas for depolluting, dismantling, and material shredding.

We are also establishing reconditioning workshops for engines and gearboxes, equipped with more advanced machinery and a larger workforce. Our aim is to move steadily toward greater automation and full compliance with international standards.

Concept rendering of SENDRA’s planned ELV facility showing a depollution and dismantling line

Concept rendering of parts storage racking and fluid drums in a workshop area at SENDRA’s planned facility

Concept rendering showing an overhead site view of SENDRA’s planned ELV facility, vehicle storage and access lanes

Concept rendering of an indoor ELV workshop with multiple vehicles and processing bays

In the medium term, we plan to extend our partnerships and operations beyond Dakar, establishing regional recycling centres across Senegal and eventually across West Africa.

To achieve this vision, we need strategic partnerships, investment in modern equipment, training for skilled technicians, and stronger government support through policy and fiscal incentives.

Our long-term ambition is to make vehicle recycling not only an environmental necessity but also a key driver of green industrialization and youth employment in Africa.