Circular Materials Management and Plastic Waste Reduction in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is the fastest-growing city in East Africa, which has resulted in an increase in waste generation, creating management challenges. Plastic pollution is especially concerning in rapidly expanding markets and economically developing areas. The purpose of this research is to identify opportunities to optimize plastic packaging and materials circularity in Dar es Salaam by utilizing the Circularity Assessment Protocol (CAP), for the first time on the African mainland continent, in collaboration with local organization Nipe Fagio. A total of 10,147 litter items were logged with Debris Tracker and plastic comprised 65% of these items. 62% of the plastic fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) surveyed in stores are manufactured in Tanzania, providing an opportunity for local discussions around packaging and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Opportunities to amplify circularity were identified through the CAP, and along with the current zero waste initiatives, provide information and lessons learned for other cities.