“Unified Waste Pickers voice”- Launching of the Tanzania Waste Pickers Association (TAWAPA)

“One person’s trash is another person’s treasure” Well, that’s the mantra of waste pickers in Tanzania. These unsung heroes play a crucial role in managing waste and keeping our surroundings clean. Waste pickers play a crucial yet often underappreciated role in the waste management ecosystem of Tanzania.

During The International Zero Waste Cities Conference (IZWCC) 2024, hosted by Nipe Fagio and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), the Tanzania Waste Pickers Association (TAWAPA) was launched. This pivotal event brought together Tanzania and Global leaders, representatives, and advocates for waste pickers from across Tanzania, including Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Tanga, and Zanzibar. Allen Kimambo from the Taka ni Ajira Foundation moderated the session, providing an insightful overview of the waste pickers’ movement in Tanzania and the work that Nipe Fagio and the Taka Ni Ajira Foundation are implementing jointly. Our work highlighted the critical role waste pickers play in the country’s waste management system and underscored the necessity of their inclusion in formal waste policies. Kimambo’s overview set the tone for the day, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and supporting waste pickers’ contributions to environmental stewardship.

The conference featured a series of panel and plenary discussions focusing on the inclusion of waste pickers in Zero Waste policies. The representatives from the waste pickers’ community shared their experiences, challenges, and successes. These discussions shed light on the essential role of waste pickers in a decentralized Zero Waste system and highlighted innovative strategies for their integration, the importance of integrating waste pickers into municipal waste management systems, success stories of waste picker inclusion from various regions and policy recommendations to support and protect the rights of waste pickers.

The highlight of the conference was the official launch of the Tanzania Waste Pickers Association. This landmark event signifies a new era for waste pickers in Tanzania, providing them with a unified voice and greater representation. TAWAPA aims to advocate for the rights and recognition of waste pickers, ensuring they are included in national and local waste management policies.

The launch of the Tanzania Waste Pickers Association at the International Zero Waste Cities Conference 2024 is a testament to the growing recognition of the vital role of waste pickers. As Tanzania continues to champion Zero Waste, the inclusion and empowerment of waste pickers will be crucial in driving meaningful and lasting change.

The IZWCC 2024 also featured the screening of two powerful documentaries that resonated deeply with the Waste Pickers. “The Path to Zero Waste Systems,” produced by Nipe Fagio, offered a compelling narrative on Tanzania’s journey towards Zero Waste implementation. Meanwhile, “Beyond the Waste: Portraits of Informal Waste Pickers,” produced by GAIA Africa Member Eco-Justice Ethiopia shed light on the struggles and triumphs of informal waste pickers. “People at the Heart of Change” produced by Ground Work tells the story of a partnership project on zero waste and Environmental Justice in the city of Durban, South Africa showing the power of small but impactful local solutions developed with people. “People at the Heart of Change” illustrates what a Just Transition should look like as we address Climate Change and inequality in this part of our world. These documentaries celebrated the vital role of waste pickers in the global movement towards Zero Waste and served as a poignant reminder of the human stories behind waste management.

Ultimately, for many waste pickers in Tanzania, waste picking is not just a job but a way of life. By collecting and selling recyclable materials, waste pickers generate income to support themselves and their families. Despite the challenges they face, waste pickers demonstrate resilience and resourcefulness in creating livelihoods out of waste.