In informal settlements in Dar es Salaam, plastic waste can be traded for health insurance.
Tanzanian-based EcoAct, a social enterprise, collects about 30 kilograms (66 lbs.) of plastics from each family per month, which it uses to manufacture plastic timbers for construction and furniture making, in an effort to decrease deforestation, reduce pollution, and support low-income families in getting health access.
“The pressing issue in most of our communities is that most of our poor families need health access,” said Christian Mwijage, managing director of EcoAct.
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About the author
Sara Jervingsarajerving
Sara Jerving is a Senior Reporter at Devex, where she covers global health. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, VICE News, and Bloomberg News among others. Sara holds a master's degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism where she was a Lorana Sullivan fellow. She was a finalist for One World Media's Digital Media Award in 2021; a finalist for the Livingston Award for Young Journalists in 2018; and she was part of a VICE News Tonight on HBO team that received an Emmy nomination in 2018. She received the Philip Greer Memorial Award from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 2014.
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