A CIRCULAR economy model to reduce plastic waste in urban areas while creating economic opportunities for local communities is being put on pilot stage at the capital city council.

Ally Mfinanga, the city environmental officer, told journalists here yesterday that this initiative is a major step towards sustainable waste management.\

The Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment) in collaboration with the city council is launching the pilot project, being rolled out in Chamwino ward, to encourage innovative methods of plastic waste management by promoting recycling and reusing plastic materials. 

He said the project is designed to address the growing waste problem while providing economic benefits for residents, by waste collection and recycling.

It is expected that the project will enable residents to realise the value of plastic waste, by using machinery to grind plastic bottles collected from various locations.. 

The materials will then be transported to Dar es Salaam, where they will be processed into new plastic products, including household items, furniture and electrical components.

In addition to the environmental and economic advantages, the project aims to enhance community involvement in environmental protection, he stated. 

While the new project expects those involved in waste collection being trained to participate in the recycling process, ordinarily isolated individuals collect such waste and deliver to processing centres for a usable fee.

The project is part of wider efforts to promote sustainable waste management practices and combat environmental pollution, he said, pointing at government commitment to support recycling initiatives.

“The pilot project is expected to be evaluated in the coming months, with the goal of expanding the initiative to other regions of the country,” he asserted..

“By focusing on recycling, the project aims to reduce the amount of plastic waste in urban areas and create a more sustainable, eco-friendly environment. It also provides a model that can be replicated in other parts of Tanzania and beyond, contributing to the global fight against plastic pollution,” he added..