The International Day of Zero Waste, celebrated every year on 30 March, emphasizes the significance of improving waste management worldwide and encouraging sustainable consumption and production patterns. In Tanzania, waste management is a critical issue, especially in rapidly growing cities like Dar es Salaam. There is inadequate capacity for waste collection and disposal, leading to large amounts of uncollected solid waste being dumped throughout the city.
On 28th March 2024, we launched our Zero Waste Documentary Community Screening at the Bonyokwa Material Recovery Facility and engaged more than 153 participants. This screening was officially opened by Hon. Saady Khimji, Chairman of the Economic and Community Services Committee in the city of Dar es Salaam and was attended by local government authorities of Bonyokwa ward and Subward. Through these screenings, we aim to amplify the messages of the Zero Waste system and collaborate with the Government, Communities, Waste Collectors, Policymakers and environmental sector stakeholders to highlight the incredible milestones we’ve achieved together since 2019. We stand proud as we celebrate 10 years of driving systematic change in waste management across Tanzania!
Wilyhard Shishikaye, Zero Waste Project Coordinator at Nipe Fagio said “In five (5) years of Zero Waste implementation, Nipe Fagio has been able to implement zero Waste models in Dar Es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar.” From the bustling streets of Dar es Salaam to the serene landscapes of Arusha and the vibrant shores of Zanzibar, the Zero Waste model has been driving system change in waste management and upstream solutions. He added, “We have registered the first-ever waste cooperative in the country Wakusanya Taka Bonyokwa Cooperative Society Limited in Bonyokwa Dar Es Salaam with more than 26 members, creating a precedent for waste cooperatives to become the bridge between recognition and informal managerial structure.”
We have achieved a 95% compliance rate to segregation at source in Dar es Salaam and Arusha. This means that 95% of people in low-income communities have agreed to separate their waste into pre-determined categories, enabling high waste recovery rates. John Yusuph Nsyenge, WTB Chairman said, “We have recovered 75-85% of all the waste generated at the household level through composting, animal feed production and recycling. Manage an average of 39 tons of waste a month in each neighbourhood served, of which 30 tons are organic waste.”
The Zero Waste model implemented in Tanzania is a clear demonstration of how a community-based model can be successfully replicated and embedded into national conversation, promoting social justice, and creating a rippling effect for implementation in more African cities and countries. Being a complete model, beneficial in employment generation, climate mitigation, awareness raising and social justice. Ana Rocha, Executive Director concluded, “When people are given a good choice, they take it. Zero Waste is not just a solution; it is a commitment to a more inclusive future for Tanzania, the East African community and beyond.” She added, “The Zero Waste model proposes a tangible approach to the climate crisis, allowing communities to understand its dynamics and act on addressing it in a protagonist role. The Zero Waste model implemented in Tanzania is a clear demonstration of how a community-based model can be successfully replicated and embedded into national conversation, promoting social justice, and creating a ripple effect for implementation in more African cities and countries.”