World Environment Day

This World Environment Day It’s Time To Think Global, Act Local

The scale of the global environmental crisis can often feel overwhelming. That’s why WasteAid’s mantra of think global, act local has never been more needed.

By working at a local level, supported by regional, national, and international partners we are delivering sustainable improvements that not only help remove waste and other harmful pollutants from communities but also deliver health, economic, and educational benefits too.

This World Environmental Day we’re shining the spotlight on some of our projects that are helping to transform lives.

The art of waste management in South Africa

Using art and music to inspire and educate the community of Masibamisane in South Africa turned to dance, rap, and song to educate people about the value of waste. The Waste Aid project, funded by WRAP and UK Research and Innovation, focused on removing the stigma of collecting waste by highlighting how repurposing materials, instead of burning them or sending them to landfill, can lead to increased economic opportunity, improved livelihoods, and better public health while protecting the environment.

As part of the same project, WasteAid worked in partnership with the University of Portsmouth and the Department for Agriculture, Rural Development Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA) to test new approaches for separating, decontaminating, collecting and processing waste including low value plastic. Our whole system approach to waste ‘from household to end markets’ was rigorously tested during the project and the findings are helping to inform our future programmes.

As part of our wider work to support the Circular Economy in South Africa funded with an initial investment from Huhtamaki in 2020 , WasteAid has now run four programmes in country developing a network of engaged members to tackle the waste crisis and to support local environmental innovators and grassroots ‘wastepreneurs’ develop the skills needed to grow their environmental businesses.

Painting the town green

WasteAid in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management (CIWM) supported the creation of an eye-catching mural on the perimeter wall of the Bakoteh Dumpsite in The Gambia to promote awareness and educate the community on the environmental dangers of burning and dumping waste. The Bakoteh dumpsite occupies a 1 sq/km space right in the centre of the country’s capital which means the mural cannot be missed by residents and visitors alike when travelling around Banjul.

The team worked with community members, volunteers and the Dennakuwo Circular Economy Network to successfully launch the programme which aimed to get people talking about the campaign and create a sense of public ownership to encourage a change in behaviour.

Empowering young people in Cameroon

In partnership with Douala III and IV Municipalities and a local plastic recycling enterprise, WasteAid provided young vulnerable and unemployed people in Cameroon with the skills and knowledge to enable them to gain long-term jobs in the green economy.

This UK government-funded project saw the group collect plastic waste from local markets and businesses, after which it was recycled or shredded and sold on to plastic recycling companies. The project in total trained 165 young people in waste, business and life skills and removed almost 50 tonnes of plastic from the environment that would otherwise be destined for rivers, gutters and landfill.