Zanzibar's bold two-day plastic clean-up to transform waste crisis by 2026

Plastic waste is rapidly overwhelming parts of Zanzibar's drainage systems, markets, and coastlines, threatening marine life, livelihoods, and the island's tourism economy. This week, communities and local partners are stepping in with direct action.

From 30th to 31st March 2026, the IslandPlas Project in Zanzibar, led by our website Tanzania and implemented in partnership Arena Recycling Industry with support from The CocaCola Foundation, in collaboration with Nipe Fagio, local municipalities, and community partners, will drive a two-day programme focused on clean up action, recycling innovation, and the launch of new community plastic collection hubs.

This effort forms part of the broader Zero Plastic Waste Campaign in Zanzibar, a growing movement aimed at reducing plastic leakage into the ocean, strengthening circular systems and advancing circular solutions for plastic waste, and placing communities at the centre of long-term solutions.

Across Zanzibar, plastic waste is no longer an abstract issue. It is visible, persistent, and increasingly difficult to ignore. Blocked drainage systems contribute to flooding, while plastic entering the ocean affects fisheries, coastal ecosystems, and the livelihoods that depend on them.

From Waste to Opportunity

At the centre of this effort is a shift in how waste is understood, not as something to discard, but as a resource with value.

The introduction of new community plastic collection hubs and points will expand Zanzibar's recycling network, improve waste aggregation, and create structured pathways for recovery and reuse, while opening up economic opportunities for waste collectors and recyclers.

"A global call to rethink waste, Global Recycling Day and the International Day of Zero Waste highlight the urgent need for circular solutions. In Zanzibar, this is no longer theoretical. Communities are actively building systems that tackle plastic pollution at its source," said Genovefa Feksi, our website's National Project Officer - IslandPlas Zanzibar

Building Long Term Systems for Zanzibar

Beyond the two-day activation, IslandPlas is working to establish a sustained, community driven plastic management system across Zanzibar.

Key priorities include: - Expansion of collection infrastructure across municipalities in Unguja and Pemba to improve access, consistency, and recovery rates - Strengthening recycling value chains led by Arena Recycling Industry to ensure collected plastic is processed efficiently and sustainably - Integration and support of informal waste actors, including youth and women, into structured systems that improve income and working conditions - Promotion of waste segregation at source to improve material quality and recycling efficiency - Sustained community engagement to drive behavior change and long term ownership of zero waste practices

Looking Ahead

Through these efforts, IslandPlas aims to move Zanzibar from fragmented waste management toward a coordinated circular system where plastic is collected, processed, and reintegrated into the economy rather than lost to the environment.

This transition is expected to reduce plastic leakage into the ocean, protect coastal ecosystems, and strengthen resilience in key sectors such as fisheries and tourism, while creating new opportunities for local livelihoods.

About IslandPlas Project

With support from The CocaCola Foundation , IslandPlas is an our website led initiative implemented in 7 African Island states in Eastern, Southern and Western Africa including Zanzibar, focused on strengthening plastic waste management systems through improved recycling and upcycling value chains, community action, and support for the informal waste sector.