Project Overview

Waste Not Zanzibar is a trans-formative environmental and social impact initiative designed to tackle the growing waste management crisis in Zanzibar by transforming discarded materials into valuable products and sustainable livelihoods. This project re-imagines waste not as a burden, but as a powerful resource—turning trash into treasure while creating jobs, reducing pollution, and fostering a circular economy.

The Challenge

Zanzibar faces increasing environmental stress from rapid urbanization, population growth, and booming tourism—resulting in overflowing landfills, plastic-littered coastlines, and polluted waters. With limited infrastructure and awareness, the island struggles to manage waste sustainably. Most waste ends up being burned, dumped, or washed into the ocean, damaging ecosystems and threatening public health.

Our Solution

Waste Not Zanzibar introduces a community-driven, innovative waste management ecosystem that integrates:

• Waste Collection & Sorting Hubs in key communities and coastal towns.
• Creative Recycling Workshops where locals up-cycle plastics, glass, metals, and organic waste into marketable products.
• Eco-Education & Outreach Programs to raise awareness and inspire behavioral change.
• Entrepreneurship Training and micro-enterprise support for local artisans, women, and youth to build green businesses.

Through this model, the project addresses waste at its source while generating economic value from discarded materials.

Project Components

1. Recycling Innovation Centers

• Establish community-based centers equipped with shredders, extruders, and molds.
• Train artisans to produce durable, beautiful products: eco-bricks, jewelry, furniture, tiles, and reusable containers.
• Partner with local designers to develop Zanzibar-inspired, eco-friendly product lines.

2. Plastic to Product Initiative

• Collect plastic waste from beaches, hotels, schools, and neighborhoods.
• Convert plastic waste into construction materials for low-income housing and public infrastructure.
• Reduce dependency on imported, non-sustainable building materials.

3. Organic Waste Composting

• Divert food waste and agricultural by-products into compost for local farms and urban gardens.
• Reduce methane emissions and improve soil health in rural and peri-urban areas.

4. Community Education & Circular Economy Training

• Launch “Trash Talks” in schools and communities to promote sustainability.
• Organize Eco-art festivals, cleanup days, and innovation challenges to engage youth.
• Support green startups with training, tools, and access to markets.

Goals & Impact (By 2027)

• Reduce landfill waste in pilot areas by 60%
• Create 200+ green jobs and microenterprises
• Clean and maintain 100 km of coastline
• Produce 50,000+ recycled/upcycled products
• Educate 15,000+ locals on sustainability & recycling
• Generate 500 tons of compost for local agriculture

Partners & Stakeholders

We collaborate with:

• Local government and municipalities
• Environmental NGOs
• Tourism industry stakeholders
• Women’s groups and youth associations
• International donors and Eco-conscious investors

Funding & Sustainability

The project operates on a hybrid funding model:

• Seed funding & grants to build infrastructure and training
• Revenue generation from eco-product sales and waste processing contracts
• Social enterprise reinvestment to ensure long-term sustainability

Why It Matters

Waste Not Zanzibar is more than waste management—it’s a movement. It’s about empowering communities to reclaim their environment, their dignity, and their future. By treating waste as a resource, we’re not just cleaning up Zanzibar—we’re building a blueprint for sustainable island living across the world.