Nipe Fagio

For decades, organic waste has been regarded as an unavoidable consequence of urban life, piling up in dumpsites, clogging drainage systems and contributing to environmental degradation in rapidly expanding cities. Yet across parts of Tanzania, communities are beginning to challenge this perception. What was once considered garbage is increasingly being recognized as a valuable resource capable of restoring degraded soils, boosting food production, creating employment opportunities and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Read More: https://shorturl.at/aNFYx cc: UMI Fund GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives)

June was a month of collaboration, learning, and action. From international forums and national environmental events to community engagements and zero waste implementation, we continued working with partners, government institutions, and communities to advance practical waste management solutions. Throughout the month, we shared experiences, strengthened partnerships, promoted environmental awareness, and showcased how the zero waste model is creating livelihoods, recovering resources, and supporting healthy communities.

Composting: An Economic Solution and a Pathway to Food Security For many years, waste was seen as something without value. However, through the Zero Waste approach, a different story is emerging—one where waste is transformed into compost and creates economic opportunities. Read more https://shorturl.at/65gPO

Congratulations to Marisa Nordstrom for her powerful contribution at Zero Waste Forum, where she spoke on behalf of the GLOW (Global & Local Organizing on Waste) Network. Her message strongly resonates with the work of Nipe Fagio and many Zero Waste practitioners across the Global South: lasting systemic change requires long-term investment in communities. Effective Zero Waste systems are built by people on the ground, waste pickers, waste collectors, community leaders, local organizations, and residents who work every day to a zero waste future, and more resilient communities. At Nipe Fagio, we have seen firsthand how flexible and sustained support enables communities in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and Tanga to lead resource recovery, strengthen local livelihoods, reduce pollution, and advance climate resilience through Zero Waste solutions. Marisa Nordstrom emphasized that funding should not only support projects but also strengthen movements. This aligns with our belief that communities must be equipped with the resources, knowledge, and opportunities needed to drive the transition from linear waste management systems toward a circular economy.

Highlights from H.E. Emine Erdoğan, First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye and Honorary President of the Zero Waste Foundation, who delivered the opening remarks at the Opening Plenary organized within the Zero Waste Forum. #ZeroWasteForum

𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 Ana Lê Rocha, our Executive Director, is attending the Zero Waste Forum 2026 under the theme "Road to Antalya: Zero Waste as Climate Action.” As one of the pioneers advancing community-based zero waste systems in Tanzania and across East Africa, we recognize the importance of global platforms that connect local action with international climate commitments. During the “Trust, Fairness and the Human Side of Transition” panel, Marisa Nordstrom from UMI Fund highlighted Tanzania’s growing leadership in advancing community-centered zero waste solutions. The discussion emphasized that successful climate and waste transitions depend on trust, fairness, and meaningful community participation. Tanzania’s Zero Waste Model, implemented in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar by Nipe Fagio and partners like UMI Fund, GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives), Global Methane Hub, GIZ Tanzania and EAC and many more demonstrates how waste can be transformed from an environmental challenge into a valuable resource. Through improved waste collection, source separation, material recovery, and composting of organic waste, communities are creating clean neighborhoods, supporting livelihoods, reducing greenhouse gas emissions like methane. The recognition of Tanzania’s experience reflects years of collaboration among waste collectors, communities, local authorities, and partners who continue to show that inclusive, people-centered approaches are essential for delivering equitable climate action and practical waste management solutions. For Tanzania and the East African Community, participation in the Zero Waste Forum is an opportunity to showcase practical solutions already being implemented on the ground, from source separation and organic waste recovery to community-led Material Recovery Facilities and composting systems that reduce methane emissions, create livelihoods, and strengthen climate resilience. cc: Zero Waste Forum Ana Lê Rocha UMI Fund GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives)

When farmers talk about compost, they rarely start with nutrients, they talk about green crops, health soil and better harvests. Across communities using compost produced at the Bonyokwa Material Recovery Facility, farmers are seeing firsthand how organic waste can become a valuable resource for food production. Urban and peri-urban farmers growing maize, beans, vegetables, and fruits have increasingly adopted compost because it is affordable, accessible, and delivers visible results in their fields. Many farmers report stronger plant growth, improved soil structure, and higher yields. These experiences are supported by laboratory analysis of compost produced at our facilities. Test results confirmed the presence of important nutrients that contribute to soil fertility, plant growth, and water retention. More importantly, they reinforce what farmers are already observing on the ground. Today, this compost is supporting the production of a wide range of crops, including maize, cassava, bananas, sunflowers, pineapples, papayas, mangoes, avocados, spinach, and many others, particularly in areas where soils have become degraded or less fertile over time. The story of compost is ultimately a story of transformation. Through zero waste systems, organic waste is diverted from disposal and returned to the soil where it belongs. In doing so, communities are improving food production, strengthening farmer resilience, reducing methane emissions, and contributing to more sustainable and sovereign food systems in Tanzania. Cc: UMI Fund GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives)

In order to assess progress and prepare the next stage of implementation, we convened the Steering Committee Meeting for the Zero Waste Tanga Project, which brought together members of the Steering Committee, representatives from Tanga City Council, project stakeholders, and the Nipe Fagio team. The meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on key milestones achieved so far, including community engagement on source segregation, preparations for waste collection operations, collaboration with waste collectors’ groups, and the ongoing development of the Material Recovery Facility (MRF). Discussions focused on strengthening coordination among stakeholders, enhancing operational systems, and ensuring that all components of the Zero Waste model work effectively together. Participants also explored approaches to waste collection management, accountability mechanisms, and community engagement strategies that will support efficient service delivery. A key area of discussion was the upcoming transition of the project to Tanga City Council. The meeting outlined important steps to ensure a smooth handover process, with continued collaboration between all partners to strengthen operational readiness and long-term management of the system. Cc: GIZ Tanzania and EAC, Wilyhard Shishikaye, Paul Sarakikya