Prevented Ocean Plastic™ East Africa proudly announces the launch of a new plastic collection centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city. This centre marks the inaugural Prevented Ocean Plastic™ facility in the region and is the first of its scale in Tanzania, addressing the urgent need for improved waste management to cope with the increasing volumes of plastic waste. This initiative has been developed with backing from the Alliance to End Plastic Waste.
Each year, an estimated 29 kilotonnes of plastic waste from Tanzania find their way into the ocean[1]. The newly established centre aims to process 300 tonnes of plastic waste monthly, equating to over 3 kilotonnes year—a significant stride toward mitigating the environmental impact of plastic in marine ecosystems. Furthermore, this facility will enhance engagement with the informal waste sector by providing local collectors with reliable income opportunities and dignified working conditions. It is expected to create 40 direct jobs for community members, with at least 50% allocated to women.
In Dar es Salaam, informal waste workers play a crucial yet often undervalued role in recycling efforts. The new centre will promote grassroots collection while implementing enhanced recycling practices through efficient waste management infrastructure rooted in responsible sourcing principles. This will effectively divert plastics from being incinerated by households, buried, or discarded into open environments, such as drainage canals, sewers, or shorelines—where approximately 40% of waste in Dar es Salaam currently ends up[3].
Raffi Schieir, Director of Prevented Ocean Plastic™, stated:
“Prevented Ocean Plastic™ entering East Africa is a huge moment of pride. This is the result of a collaborative effort that began two years ago, uniting expert minds in recycling across five continents to enhance collection and recycling in Tanzania. We extend our gratitude to the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, which now stands as the fifth institutional funding partner supporting and validating finance for our globally scalable and repeatable impact franchise model.”
Given ongoing challenges such as rapid urbanization, population growth, and inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure, Dar es Salaam is particularly susceptible to plastic pollution and the health ramifications of mismanaged waste. Prevented Ocean Plastic™ is investing in forthcoming research to gather additional data about the region’s waste management challenges.
The work of Prevented Ocean Plastic™ in East Africa draws on established best practices from its existing operations in other regions.
Ubeyd Yesil, Site Manager of the Dar Es Salaam collection centre, remarked:
“The new plastic collection centre will significantly impact Dar es Salaam by cleaning up plastic waste from our city while providing work and income opportunities for local residents. We aspire to see a cleaner future where plastic is given a second life instead of ending up in the ocean or surrounding environment.”
This centre represents the tenth facility opened by Prevented Ocean Plastic™ in its mission to establish 25 collection centres in coastal areas vulnerable to plastic pollution by the end of 2025. Each centre adheres to the Prevented Ocean Plastic™ Standards, recognized as the most comprehensive in the industry, promoting responsible sourcing and ensuring safe, dignified working conditions. These standards align with the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) base code and are informed by the Code of Good Practice developed by ISEAL and best-in-class processes from Bantam Materials UK Ltd.
For more information about Prevented Ocean Plastic™ and sustainable packaging initiatives, visit: www.preventedoceanplastic.com.
[1] Pucino, M., Boucher, J., Bouchet, A., Paruta, P., Zgola, M., (2020). Plastic Pollution Hotspotting and Shaping Action: Regional Results from Eastern and Southern Africa, the Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia. Switzerland: IUCN. viii+78 pp.
[2] 300 tonnes per month = 12.41% of estimated plastic waste that enters the ocean from the Republic of Tanzania (29 kilotonnes per year)
[3] UNEP (2018). The National Solid Waste Management Strategy.
