SITUATION OVERVIEW
Thisreportcoverstheoutcomesofoureffortstocollectandmanage wastefromtheFezaRiverinSeptember2024.Atotalof140kilograms ofwastewassuccessfullycapturedandpreventedfromreaching theocean.
Themostsignificantportionofthiswastewasplastic,amaterialthat posessevereenvironmentalrisks.Thisinitiativeisatestamenttothe effectivenessofthefloatingbarrierfundedbyEco,demonstrating tangibleresultsinthefightagainstpollution.
Thedatapresentedinthisreporthighlightsthetypesofwastebeing generatedandcollectedbyTheRecycler;andemphasizestheneed forcontinuouseffortstomitigatepollutioninTanzania'srivers.
InSeptember2024,thefloatingbarrierontheFezaRivercaptured140 kilogramsofwaste.Thistablebreaksdownthetypesofwaste collected,sheddinglightonthemostcommonpollutants:
PLASTICWASTE
REMOVED DETAILED
Again,wenoticethatPETbottlesformalargepartofthecollected waste,nearly40kg.21kgofplainPETbottlesand19kgcoloured PETbottles.Thesebottlesarewidelyusedforbeverages,andtheir presenceintheriverindicatesahighconsumptionofpackaged drinksinthelocalarea.
Wealsorecollected34Kgofglassbottles!Alotmore thaninourlastreportfromAugust!
Residualwaste(30Kg)remainsanessentialcomponent ofthedata.Thisconsistsofeverydaywastesuchas foodwaste.Alsothistimeitformsalargepartofthe collectedwaste.
Otherimpressivedataistheamountofhardplastics andtheLD/HDfilmsthathasbeenfound.Wecollected 11Kgofhardplasticsand6kgofLD/HDfilms.
RIVERWASTEPROFILE: VISUAL BREAKDOWN
PIECHART
EXPLANATION
Thepiechartvisualizesthe amountwastecollectedbyour barrierandthatcanbe recycled.Ofthis81,4%is relatedtotheuseofdrinking bottles(glassandPET).This againshowstheimportanceof providingalternativesto peopleandmakingsurewaste canalsoserveasanew resource.
Theseeffortsfurthershowtheneedtoinstorerobustsoundwaste managementpractices.Companiesshouldbemoreinvolvedin therecollectionoftheirproducts,notablythoughEPRschemes.
Moreover,italsoshowsthateducationremainsanvitalkeyto changeconsumerhabitsandavoidcreatingillegalwastecollection points.Thedatashowsthatasignificantportionofthewaste collectedisrecyclable,whichspeakstothepotentialformore robustrecyclinginitiativesinthefuture.
BEHINDTHEWASTE: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The range of products found in the trash catcher shows that a betterandmoreunifiedapproach to waste management must be undertaken. One that involves local communities, recycling facilities, companies and public authorities to develop a robust and comprehensive approach to waste management in Dar es Salaam.
ECO’s involvement in this project supportsnotonlywastecollection butalsothebroaderconversation on corporate accountability and environmentalstewardship.
