This December, WasteAid is delighted to once again take part in The Big Give Christmas Challenge – the UK’s biggest annual match-funding campaign. This is a powerful opportunity for you to double the impact of your donation and help us scale up our work tackling the global waste crisis.

Why this matters

Worldwide, around 1 in 3 people are forced to dump or burn their waste – a harmful practice that spreads disease, pollutes the oceans, and accelerates climate change.

At WasteAid, our mission is to turn that around: we work with local partners to build inclusive, community-led waste management, recycling and circular-economy solutions – protecting the environment while creating sustainable livelihoods in vulnerable communities.

This Christmas, your support has the potential to go twice as far.

How the match-funding works

The Big Give Christmas Challenge uses a “pledge-match” model: participating charities secure a portion of match-funding from their own supporters (pledgers) and from Big Give’s “Champion” funders.

Once the match fund is secured, public donations made through Big Give’s platform during the campaign week are matched pound-for-pound – so every £1 you give becomes £2 for WasteAid.

For example, a £30 gift could become £60 – enough to fund a variety of impactful interventions in communities that need it most.

What your doubled gift can achieve

With your doubled donation, WasteAid can:

• Empower more communities to separate, collect and recycle plastic, organic, textile and electronic waste – reducing pollution, disease risk and climate emissions.
• Support local entrepreneurs via our “Wastepreneur” and circular-economy programmes, enabling people to earn a stable income from waste collection, recycling and reuse.
• Scale up our global reach, ensuring more people benefit from inclusive waste-management solutions, improved public health, and sustainable livelihoods.

Every gift – whether large or small – can help transform lives and protect our planet.

How to take part

Visit our WasteAid page on The Big Give when the Christmas Challenge opens (from midday on 2 December to midday on 9 December 2025).

Choose the amount you’d like to give – and watch your donation immediately double, thanks to match-funding.

Consider sharing the campaign with friends and family – the more people give, the bigger the impact we can make together.

And don’t forget: if you’re a UK taxpayer, tick the Gift Aid box so WasteAid can reclaim an extra 25p for every £1 you give – at no extra cost to you.

Help us reach our mission — together

At WasteAid, we believe in the power of community, collective action, and sustainability. The global waste crisis is vast – but with your support, we can transform waste into value, protect vulnerable communities, and build a circular economy that works for people and planet.

This Christmas, you can help make a world of difference. Give once – create impact twice.

Thank you for being part of the solution.

Support us today

A group of First-Step Resource Management participants from Mpumalanga Province recently experienced a powerful day of learning and inspiration, moving beyond the classroom to witness the real-world potential of the waste sector. As part of WasteAid’s intensive training and mentorship program, 30 participants visited the successful Makhabisi Recycling Center in Boksburg, South Africa.

The Power of a Tangible Example

The aim of the field visit was to provide a tangible example of a Buy-Back Centre that started from humble beginnings as waste collectors and scaled into a thriving enterprise. Participants were given a comprehensive overview of the facility’s operations, connecting the theory they learned in training directly to practice.
Cleo Ngulube, Programme Manager for WasteAid, highlighted the significance of the experience:
“The field visit is a powerful part of the WasteAid Wastepreneurs training. It is where theory meets reality. Seeing a Buy-Back Centre run by a WasteAid alumnus was not only inspiring for our participants, but it was also a tangible reminder of what’s possible in the waste sector. For our participants, who are from smaller towns with limited market exposure, I believe this experience opened their eyes to new possibilities and gave them the confidence to dream bigger, while also learning what it takes to turn those dreams into reality.”

From Micro-Scale to Medium Enterprise

The WasteAid program is designed to build the business skills of participants, facilitating community engagement to help them grow viable waste business enterprises. Currently operating at a micro-scale as informal waste collectors, the goal is for the participants to transition into larger, medium-to-large-scale business entities.

The Makhabisi Recycling Center operates as a Buy-Back Centre, a model where community members bring their recyclables to be weighed and are paid for their efforts. This mechanism underscores the value of waste as an economic commodity.

During the visit, one of the hosts emphasised the vital role of waste collectors, whose work is often undervalued by society: “It’s an economic activity that we really don’t see as important, but it is very valuable and it’s very important… the more that they grow, the more that they do such things as the ones that they’ve observed today, then with the society will realise their value.”

Key Takeaways and Future Dreams

The participants were clearly impacted by the visit, gaining both technical knowledge and entrepreneurial inspiration. One participant shared, “I’ve learned how a waste picker should separate at source… If it’s a can, you must separate those cans. If it’s green and brown, you must separate according to their colours.”
Another participant spoke to the power of growth, inspired by Makhabisi’s founders: “The biggest lesson is that you can turn a small thing into a bigger thing… I’ve noted from the founders… that at first they started like collecting waste from their home, going around collecting in schools and in local, but look now like they are owning a well-established entity.”

This inspiration immediately translated into big goals, with a participant stating, “What I’m taking away today definitely has to be: I also like to own a buyback centre in Witbank because there’s a lot of waste in Witbank.” They noted that opening a local centre could help educate the community on the importance of recycling, contributing to a more sustainable and beautiful place to live.

This field visit successfully demonstrated that the waste sector is not just about environmental necessity, but a pathway to sustainable enterprise, job creation, and community upliftment.

In Kawempe, Kampala, a once-neglected wall has become a bold symbol of pride and possibility. Between October and November 2025, WasteAid — under the Bunzl WastePreneur Challenge – Uganda — joined hands with local leaders, youth, and waste entrepreneurs to turn waste education into public art.

The Community Waste Education Mural Initiative used creativity to inspire cleaner habits, recycling, and collective action. What began as a clean-up became a movement — transforming rubbish into colour and community pride.

Art, Awareness, and Action

Led by muralist Ssessanga Alex (Alexx Page), the project started with neighbourhood consultations, where residents shaped the mural’s theme and colours — green for renewal, blue for cleanliness, and yellow for optimism.

Before any paint hit the wall, over 140 volunteers cleared waste from the area.

“We cleaned before the painting began because change must start from the ground up.”
— Arthur, Community Member

Through painting sessions and waste education talks, residents, youth, and wastepreneurs worked side by side, turning the space into a shared classroom and canvas.

“WasteAid and Bunzl came at the right time. Their approach of using art to educate is both creative and impactful.”
— Ashraf Semogerere, LC Official

Colouring a Cleaner Future

Under Alexx Page’s mentorship, four young volunteers learned mural techniques and environmental messaging, leaving behind not only a wall of art but a legacy of learning.

“Every brushstroke came from a story told by residents. We didn’t just paint a mural — we painted a movement.”
— Alexx Page, Artist

The mural — now a local landmark in Kawempe Kuttano — features a weeping globe, recycling arrows, and images of green growth, reminding everyone that waste has value.

“Every time I ride past the mural, I’m reminded that keeping Kampala clean starts with me.”
— Imran Atukunda, Boda Boda Rider

Impact and Inspiration

• One large-scale clean-up cleared more than 20 waste heaps.
• Around 140 participants took part — 35% women, 40% youth.
• Four young artists trained in mural art and waste awareness.
• Local pride and ownership visibly strengthened.

The mural’s message — “Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Repeat.” — now echoes through daily life in Kawempe, inspiring residents to keep their neighbourhoods clean and thriving.

A Lasting Legacy

The Kawempe mural stands as more than just colour on concrete — it’s a story of transformation told by the community itself. Through art, WasteAid and Bunzl have helped residents see that waste can be wealth, and that lasting change begins with collective action.

WasteAid’s work linking harmful waste to public health is having real life impacts in Uganda’s capital of Kampala.

In the heart of Katoogo Zone, nestled within the vibrant community of Kinawataka, Mbuya, local residents, ‘Wastepreneurs’, health professionals, and community mobilisers recently came together not just to clean, but to heal.

A joint clean-up and medical outreach event, spearheaded by Reach Out Mbuya, in partnership with Kiswa Health Centre III and supported by WasteAid, proved that when health and environmental champions join forces, the results go far beyond simply clearing waste.

The event brought together five dedicated WasteAid-trained Wastepreneurs – Khainza Annet, Akello Dilith, Tumusiime Winnie, Nakiyingi Fatuma, and Nakiwala Amina – who are tackling pollution whilst redefining what it means to earn a living in a circular economy.

Funded by worldwide distribution specialists Bunzl, each of these Wastepreneurs collected between 18–25 kg of recyclable materials, helping remove more than 20 piles of rubbish from the area.

The Wastepreneurs shared their personal journeys, offered sorting demonstrations, and inspired others to view waste as a valuable resource and an opportunity.

“Every bag of sorted waste we collect is one step closer to dignity and income,” said Akello, a proud Wastepreneur. “But it starts with community trust, and today, we built that together.”

Alongside the clean-up, over 100 residents received free screenings for HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, thanks to a committed medical team from Reach Out Mbuya and Kiswa Health Centre III.

“Waste is not just an eyesore, it’s a public health risk,” said Olanya Samuel, a cough monitor with Reach Out Mbuya. “Today we offered free testing, but the real success is in shifting mindsets about prevention through proper waste practices.”

Residents began drawing the connection between poor sanitation and health issues, many for the first time, laying the groundwork for future behaviour change.

Counsellor Namubiru Grace Anne added: “Many of the illnesses we treat daily have roots in unsanitary conditions. This partnership with WasteAid is helping bridge the gap between health and environmental awareness.”

A Hidden Hero: Martha Acam

Perhaps the most heart-warming moment of the event came unexpectedly.

During the clean-up, the team was led to the home of Martha Acam, a 65-year-old retired nurse, who had quietly turned her rented rooms into a makeshift plastic bag collection centre. Driven by concern for her neighbourhood, she’s been collecting, washing, and storing plastic bags for years.

That day, her personal mission became part of something bigger: she was linked to a Wastepreneur trained under the WasteAid Challenge Project who can help her bring this “accidental warehouse” into the circular economy.

A beautiful full-circle moment – literally turning trash into treasure.

Powerful partnership

Ceris Turner-Bailes, WasteAid CEO, said “Events like the Kinawataka clean-up demonstrate the power of integrated community action – where health, dignity and environmental care come together. WasteAid is deeply grateful to Bunzl for their continued support, which enables us to empower local Wastepreneurs, transform waste into opportunity and deliver lasting change in communities.”

The event’s success in Kinawataka proves that when public health meets community waste innovation, the impact is deep, lasting, and transformational. Households are now expressing interest in waste sorting. Trust has been built and momentum is growing.

At a recent workshop in Uganda’s capital city of Kampala, something significant has begun to spark in community approach to waste.

WasteAid, in partnership with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), brought together Parish Council Leaders, Division Officials, and local Wastepreneurs for a powerful half-day workshop aimed at transforming how communities handle their waste.

The goal was clear: equip local leaders with the knowledge and sense of urgency required to promote source-level sorting and disposal. But this workshop was more than information-sharing—it was a call to action.

“As leaders, we didn’t gather to tick a box—we gathered to take responsibility and drive action,” declared Samula Matovu John, a sentiment echoed throughout the day.

Participants tackled the root causes of poor waste management in breakout groups, developing community-led solutions to persistent issues. These included illegal dumping, high collection charges, lack of segregation, limited equipment, and poor enforcement of by-laws.

Among the standout concerns was the absence of sorting infrastructure in densely populated areas. The solution? KCCA and local leaders committed to mapping and allocating communal sorting hubs, combining this with grassroots awareness campaigns which will be spearheaded by leaders and Wastepreneurs working hand-in-hand.

Another major roadblock was the community’s resistance to paying for waste services. Leaders acknowledged the need to change the narrative by embedding education into everyday engagement. “Change starts when leaders stop pointing fingers and start holding brooms,” said Phiona Nabalayo, capturing the spirit of collective responsibility that filled the room.
A notable highlight was the testimonies shared by local Wastepreneurs who collect PET, paper, and soft plastics.

Their challenges—such as lack of balers and limited recycling markets—were not just heard, but integrated into follow-up plans. These plans include reaching out with corporates like Coca-Cola and Pepsi to explore support for essential baling equipment.

“If the community is the problem, then the community is also the solution,” added Nsumba Davis. It’s a mantra that will shape the upcoming parish dialogues and sensitisation campaigns launching this month.

Looking ahead, the action plan includes tailored IEC materials for urban slums, strengthened contractor oversight, and school curriculum inserts to foster early education on waste.

“We shall not recycle just plastics—we must also recycle our mindsets,” concluded Namara Jossy Rugasira.

The workshop didn’t just end with a report—it launched a movement. With local leaders at the helm, a cleaner Kampala isn’t just possible—it’s already underway.

Plastic Free July has become a global movement, rallying communities to reduce single‑use plastics. At WasteAid, we are at the frontline of this mission working with some of the world’s most affected communities to create real, lasting solutions.

Far too often, low- and middle-income countries face grave plastic pollution due to limited waste infrastructure. Plastic clogs waterways, contaminates soil, or is burned openly—threatening health, livelihoods, and the environment.

WasteAid addresses this by:

1. Collaborative, community-first efforts: We work directly with informal waste collectors, social enterprises, educators, and policymakers. We want to build inclusive systems that empower communities to manage waste themselves.
2. Locally appropriate solutions: By tailoring solutions—like debris-collection programmes in Douala, Cameroon— we ensure initiatives meet local needs and conditions. In Douala, we’ve supported work to clear polluted streets and estuaries, reviving environments and community health.
3. Empowerment: Beyond cleaning up plastic, WasteAid creates sustainable livelihoods, promotes circular economy innovation, and advances public health—all while building local ownership.

Take, for example, the story of Amie – one of hundreds of waste collectors who have benefited from WasteAid’s programmes. She works hard every day collecting plastic waste from the beach and river in her fishing village, a short drive from Gambia’s capital city, Banjul.

Through her work with WasteAid’s Wastepreneur programme, Amie not only earns enough money to care for her family of 15, but she’s also making a difference in her community as part of a co-operative of waste collectors and inspiring people to responsibly dispose of their waste.

Plastic Free July inspires people to rethink their plastic habits—it’s an ideal moment to spotlight the global ripple effects of our actions. This month, rethink plastic and consider how you – either as an individual or a business – can support our work to turn plastic pollution into opportunity through teamwork, dignity, and long-term community power.

Together, we’re not just reducing plastic—we’re empowering communities to build healthier, more resilient futures.

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