The menace of plastic pollution poses a significant threat to both environmental sustainability and human health worldwide. Recognizing the urgency in addressing this issue, I.O.Me005 conducted several plastic waste collection campaigns and community cleanups with a hashtag, “Plastic trash is cash” in collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross volunteers, community members, and Flipflopi foundation.
Effective community engagement served as the cornerstone of our plastic waste collection program. To ensure maximum participation and awareness, we had devised an advertising campaign utilizing the megaphones broadcasting the message in the local language about the upcoming collection drives and cleanups and the vital role each individual plays in contributing to a cleaner environment. Through this approach, we sought also to sensitize and mobilize the community members to actively participate in the initiative and be part of the change.
Local residents and community leaders came together to advocate and embraced an opportunity to effect tangible change in their surroundings. Enthusiastically participants sold their collected hard plastics to recyclers reflecting their dedication to the cause. For the two days, we managed to collect over 1.375tonnes of plastic waste in Hindi and Mokowe villages.
Consequently, we continued the campaign and conducted several other approaches by conducting beach, market and town clean ups in the various parts of the Lamu county. We collected over 0.4tonnes along the Wiyoni beach, over 3 tonnes on the several villages of Lamu Island, 2 tonnes in Hindi town, 0.4tonnes in Mokowe village and 0.5 tonnes in Mpeketoni village.
The collection process was not merely about picking up trash; it was about empowering the community to take ownership of their environment. By involving them in every step of the process, from collection to transportation, we instilled a sense of pride and responsibility. Each kilogram of plastic collected symbolized a collective effort towards a sustainable future. Streets that were once marred by litter were gradually transformed into zones of collective effort and environmental consciousness. The sight of community members diligently collecting plastic waste served as a reminder of the transformative power of grassroots initiatives and seeing opportunities out of the menace of plastic pollution.
