Ruptly
"A community-driven recycling initiative is reshaping how residents in Dar es Salaam deal with mounting waste, offering both environmental relief and a source of income in one of East Africa’s fastest-growing cities. In areas where plastic and debris have long accumulated along the coastline, local company The Recycler Limited is working with communities to collect and repurpose waste into reusable materials. Footage shows workers gathering plastic along the shoreline, weighing collected materials and engaging with residents who bring recyclables in exchange for small payments. At the centre of the initiative is the 'Taka Pesa' model, which encourages residents to treat waste as a resource rather than a burden. “The concept… was based on controlling waste management from the household level,” explained project coordinator Peter Emmanuel. “Waste is not easily manageable due to a lack of infrastructure… there are not many municipal trucks or proper waste management systems.” Through outreach campaigns and door-to-door engagement, organisers have been encouraging households to collect and sell recyclable materials. “If you need some kind of money… you can add value to the materials that you are throwing away, then bring them to us, and we can give you something,” Emmanuel explained. For many residents, the initiative has become a vital source of income. “This work helps us meet our daily needs… I can easily pay school fees,” said Beatrice Chira, a local resident. Environmental experts say such projects are filling gaps left by limited public waste management systems. “The environmental protection law exists, but its implementation is a real challenge,” said environmentalist Halili Letea. “It is supposed to be the responsibility of authorities… but this is not being done.” Despite the challenges, organisers say they aim to expand the programme nationwide within the next five years, as demand for sustainable waste solutions continues to grow. Dar es Salaam generates thousands of tonnes of waste every day, with rapid urbanisation and population growth putting increasing pressure on already limited waste management infrastructure. A significant portion of the city’s waste remains uncollected, often ending up in informal dumpsites, drainage systems and coastal areas."
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