"Zanzibar's silent crisis—waste is piling up, and so are the risks."

With over 159,000 metric tonnes of waste generated annually and no proper management systems in place, Zanzibar’s environment is drowning in trash. This toxic buildup is contributing to the global climate crisis and harming both public health and the economy. It's time to turn the tide.

Here are some engaging problem statements addressing waste management challenges through the lens of environmental protection and climate change in Zanzibar:

1. “Trash to Tide: Can Zanzibar Save Its Shores Before the Plastic Overflows?”

Problem: Coastal communities in Zanzibar are facing increasing marine pollution from unmanaged plastic waste, threatening marine biodiversity, tourism, and livelihoods.

2. “Burning Waste, Burning Planet: Is Zanzibar’s Air Paying the Price?”

Problem: Open burning of waste is a common practice in Zanzibar, contributing to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, with health and climate impacts that go largely unnoticed.

3. “From Spice Isles to Waste Isles: Can Zanzibar Escape a Garbage Future?”

Problem: Inadequate urban waste infrastructure in rapidly growing areas of Zanzibar is turning once pristine environments into dumping grounds, endangering both ecosystems and community well-being.

4. “Climate at the Curb: Is Poor Waste Collection Feeding Zanzibar’s Warming Woes?”

Problem: Poor waste collection systems and lack of recycling contribute to methane emissions from landfills, worsening the island’s vulnerability to climate change.

5. “Eco-Paradise or Plastic Prison? Zanzibar’s Climate Future in the Trash”

Problem: The lack of integrated waste and environmental policies in Zanzibar is limiting climate resilience efforts, particularly in protecting coastal and agricultural zones from pollution and climate stressors.