Dar es Salaam – Over 30 women in the local recycling industry in Dar es Salaam are expected to be equipped with the necessary tools including PET plastic baling Machine, Installations, Machine Technical and maintenance support, personal protective equipment and business and entrepreneurship trainings, to take their rightful place as equals in the economy. This is through a grant awarded by The Coca-Cola Foundation to local Tanzania NGO Wezesha binti na Mama Mjasiliamali. 

The grant valued at about 23.3 million Tanzanian shillings will support the “Tanzania Women in Recycling” project over the next three months-beginning in February 2023. The project is expected to create green jobs and ensure that more than 100 plastic waste pickers in the city of Dar es Salaam record improved income and live decent lives. 

Speaking during the launch ceremony, WBM Executive Director Ms. Latifa Mohamed highlighted that “the program intends to empower women in the recycling industry by supporting them with equipment. The program will incorporate training at the beginning such as recycling business skills and financial literacy training.  

Mohamed added that “The equipment support will mean giving women who work in recycling the infrastructure they need to improve their efforts in pre-processing plastic, which will help them make more money and create good jobs in the plastic recycling value chain. 

Speaking on the grant, Ms Saadia Madsbjerg, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation said, “We are really proud of the opportunity to support circular economy efforts that empower the informal sector both large and small in Africa. I am hopeful that through this support, these women will someday themselves be create new jobs”. 

The Women in Recycling initiative will be run in Temeke, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 

The event was attended by WBM staff, Coca-Cola representatives together with local bottler partner (Coca-Cola Kwanza Ltd a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa) staff, Temeke Municipal Council, Environment Department representatives, and members of the media. 

*Update* On December 2, 2024, The Coca-Cola Company announced updated voluntary environmental goals. Read more here: The Coca-Cola Company Evolves Voluntary Environmental Goals