Turning waste into opportunity

Empowering communities and creating jobs in Shashemene, Ethiopia

home / Sustainability / Turning waste into opportunity

Value 4 Waste

In the town of Shashemene in Ethiopia, littering of the environment with plastic and paper waste is a huge and growing problem. In May 2021, BEWI initiated a project together with Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), and Tamra for Social Development Organization (TSD) aiming to turning waste into a valuable resource empowering communities and creating job opportunities.

Through the Value for Waste project BEWI has aimed to:

Reduce littering
Collect waste for recycling
Raising awareness about waste as a valuable resource
Creating job and entrepreneurship opportunities

To gain insight into the project, we spoke with Camilla Bjerkli, BEWI’s Sustainability Director, about the project’s achievements.

Can you give us a brief overview of the Value 4 Waste project and its objectives?

The Value 4 Waste project is a collaborative effort between Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and its local partner, Tamra for Social Development Organization (TSD). The project aims to improve the solid waste management in Shashemene and create a sustainable environment by addressing the growing problem of plastic and paper waste littering. The project has made significant progress in waste management and recycling through the establishment of a Micro and Small Enterprises who have through capacity-building training, discussions, awareness campaigns managed to establish an efficient and profitable business for the collection and sale of plastic and paper for material recycling.

What role has BEWI played in supporting the project?

BEWI has actively supported the project by providing financial resources, sharing expertise in solid waste management, and offering guidance on best practices. Our involvement has allowed us to contribute to a cause that aligns with our values and helps create a more sustainable future.

How have the local communities responded to the project?

The response from local communities has been very positive. They have actively participated in cleaning their environment and collecting plastic and paper waste. The project has also created job opportunities for over 150 individuals involved in waste collection, transportation, and recycling. This has not only contributed to environmental cleanliness but has also provided income for the community members.

The Value 4 Waste project has significantly impacted solid waste management in Shashemene. Can you tell us more about this aspect of the project?

The project has made considerable progress in improving solid waste management, with over 1,000 metric tons of plastic waste collected and recycled. This has been achieved by creating a centralized waste management system with permanent recycling centres, ensuring that waste collectors have access to personal protective equipment, and providing training on waste collection and recycling techniques. The project has also focused on reducing the amount of plastic waste in landfill sites, thereby minimizing the environmental impact.

Raising awareness about waste as a valuable resource is another crucial aspect of the project. How has the project achieved this, and what has been the impact on local communities?

We have conducted awareness campaigns to inform communities in Shashemene about the value of waste and how it can be transformed into a valuable resource. The campaigns reached over 140,000 people, leading to an increase in waste collection and recycling activities. This has generated income for community members and contributed to creating a cleaner environment. The project has also helped establish community waste collectors and recycling groups, further spreading the message that waste is a valuable resource.

One of the project's main goals is to create job and entrepreneurship opportunities for young men and women. Can you discuss the successes in this area?

The project aimed to create permanent job opportunities for 20 young women and men by establishing them into SMEs (Small and Micro Enterprises) focused on waste collection and recycling. As a result, these established SMEs have provided consistent income for their members, with 17 women and 3 men working in the waste collection sector. The project has also linked 150 informal waste collectors to the established SMEs, further expanding the waste collection and recycling network in Shashemene.

In conclusion, the Value 4 Waste project has significantly impacted young men’s and women’s lives in Shashemene, Ethiopia, by creating job and entrepreneurship opportunities through waste collection and recycling. By improving solid waste management and raising awareness about the value of waste, the project has empowered communities and contributed to a cleaner, healthier environment.

Through the ongoing efforts of organizations like BEWI, NCA, and TSD, the Value 4 Waste project serves as an example of how innovative approaches to waste management can transform lives and promote sustainable development. With continued support and collaboration, projects like this have the potential to create lasting change in communities around the world.

Read more about the Value 4 Waste project