Igniting the Plastic Revolution in Tanzania’s Fastest Growing City
Written by Hannah Evans
Volunteers at the Kigamboni Beach cleanup | © Megan S Lee
Our Mwanza event signified the end of our month-long Lake Victoria expedition and the beginning of the long journey home to Lamu, Kenya.
After 3 days and over 1000km travelled on the back of a lorry, the Flipflopi arrived in Dar Es Salaam. And after 2 years of travelling across East Africa, was finally floated back on the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
Before we packed up to set sail north to the Flipflopi’s spiritual home, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to hold a full schedule of events in Tanzania’s largest city, Dar Es Salaam. As one of the fastest-growing cities worldwide, we wished to draw Tanzanian attention to the severe plastic pollution crisis threatening our oceans and livelihoods. Due to the rapidly growing population, there was never a better time to address the issue of waste management.
Flipflopi member Katharina discussing plastic pollution with groups in Dar | © Megan S Lee
Even after over a month of travel, the Flipflopi crew were hungry for the 3 days of events before them. The events included high-level discussion, education workshops, cleanups, goodbyes and hellos to future partners. The forthcoming weekend was going to be another key stop to put an end to plastic pollution that couldn’t be missed.
It Begins With Education
On the 16th of April, students from Haven of Peace Academy and Bonyokwa Primary and Secondary school attended plastic awareness workshops. These workshops were headed by our very own plastic recycling expert Katharina Elleke who gave presentations in both Swahili and English (neither of which are her native tongue).
The workshops aimed to raise awareness among the future leaders of our communities. Katharina raised awareness of the harm of plastics, how to reduce consumption and of course all the wonderful ways this material can be recycled. With the overall aim to inspire the youth for the possible future industries and plastic innovations.
Cleaning Up Our Mess
Early the next day we gathered with 80+ volunteers for a clean up of Kigamboni beach. With huge thanks to our local partners Nipe Fagio, a massive 1970kgs of plastic waste was collected in only an hour and on a 200 metre stretch of beach.
Volunteers working at the cleanup in Kigamboni | © Megan S Lee
Nipe Fagio is a civil society organisation that aims to empower individuals, especially the youth, the civil society, the private sector and the government to build lasting change towards turning Tanzania into a clean and sustainable country.
The group regularly undertake large cleanups to engage the community and draw attention to the mammoth amounts of plastic that wash up on local beaches. At each cleanup, the group records the waste and amounts collected to monitor the largest local polluters.
At this cleanup, the majority of waste collected was styrofoam and polystyrene with plastic bottles coming in second. Nipe Fagio also did a full breakdown of the plastic producers and brands found in the waste. The report found that over 65% of the plastic collected was produced by Metl.
Making a Song and Dance to Create Awareness
Some examples of recycled plastic items at the eco market | © Megan S Lee
Later that day, we moved our attention and activities to Slipway Hotel and Pier to host an eco market, dance performance and an unveiling of yet another recycled plastic sculpture.
The crowds at Slipway allowed for a large amount of interest from passers-by and interested parties. Much attention was drawn to the plastic crisis our environment faces as well as highlighting simple ways that individuals can reduce their consumption of plastic. We had help in this awareness campaign from local organisations and exhibitors Ozti Recycling, Njombe Beyond and Info Nile.
We continued the theme of Artivism that has continued through this month-long expedition by unveiling another sculpture crafted from recycled plastic bottles. The sculpture was created by Tumaini Musa and aims to show the potential beauty that can arise from plastic waste, as well as provoke discussions on reuse, recycling and a plastic circular economy.
Finally, Nantea Dance Company performed a contemporary dance portraying the complex relationship between the earth and her people - the care and disharmony that each shows the other and the threats that’s caused by this push and pull - e.g. environmental pollution & climate change.
Seeking the Changemakers
The photo exhibition during the high-level breakfast | © Megan S Lee
Our last day of events in Dar Es Salaam was focused on beginning the conversation of how we can put an end to plastic pollution once and for all. The event consisted of a high-level panel discussion with 40 diplomats and decision-makers from UNEP, AFD, FCDO, British Council Tanzania, and Nipe Fagio, to name a few.
At the breakfast, a collection of photos from the Lake Victoria expedition was exhibited with special commentary from the crew discussing their experiences and reflections on such a wonderful journey. Later a further discussion was held with the representatives regarding the next steps needed to begin to tackle the plastic menace blighting our environment.
And finally, a plastic pledge was launched to encourage businesses to take action to eliminate single-use plastics from their establishments and to help tackle plastic pollution by joining the Clean Seas Campaign.
With a programme of events such as this, we were able to address people from across the community;
The youth - the future of our planet
The everyday person - the people that can influence plastic products through their own consumption and purchase
Decision and lawmakers - the people that can act to put an end to plastic consumption and creation for good
By raising awareness in cross-sections of communities it’s our hope that we can continue the conversation and action of reduction, reuse and recycling of plastic waste so that we can finally put an end to the reliance on single-use plastics that we currently face.
And though the Flipflopi sailed away up to Lamu, the work continues in Dar Es Salaam with our partners Nipe Fagio and our local representative Maliha who is working hard to ignite conversations and awareness programmes on a regular basis.
Watch this space for more cleanups and sustainable skill sharing!
Can you help us to continue our work in Tanzania?
We are kickstarting the #plasticrevolution in Tanzania and we want to make sure the message is spread far and wide. That’s why we’re working with local partners EMEDO and Maliha Sumar to continue spreading the message even when the boat isn’t there.
In Mwanza we launch an Eco Education Centre to empower young people with the knowledge and skills, they need to make cash from trash and to work towards a single-use plastic future.
To learn more and donate to the cause, click here. Any help you can give us would be a step closer to a plastic-free future.
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