By Respondent Correspondent
Dar es Salaam. In a groundbreaking
move to combat environmental pollution from indiscriminate waste disposal,
Cosmas Kindole, a postgraduate student and assistant lecturer at the University
of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), has discovered a novel way to recycle crab fish scales
into usable fibers and fabrics.
Crab scales, often discarded in
landfills, can be transformed into valuable materials when combined with
seaweed.
These materials include fibers for
stitching hospital wounds, various types of clothing, and even biodegradable
plastic suitable for food packaging.
The innovation addresses the
significant waste problem in East Africa, where six to eight million tons of
crab scales are discarded annually.
Kindole’s inspiration came from the
sheer volume of waste produced and the need for sustainable solutions.
"We have been able to use the
waste that is thrown away in the streets and return it to use in other
ways," he said.
His research demonstrates that just
500 grams of crab scales can produce one liter of gel, which can be spun into
enough fibers to create a sweatshirt and two pairs of jeans.
This innovation extends beyond
clothing. Kindole has also developed biodegradable plastics from the same
materials, which are not only eco-friendly but also edible when used as food
packaging.
"If the packaging is placed in a cake,
the plastic can be eaten as part of the food," he explained.
Kindole's work is still in the
experimental phase, especially concerning medical applications. "We have
already experimented with these fibers in sewing clothes, and it was of high
quality. On the human side, we have not yet done experiments because it is
difficult to use the human body for experiments," he noted.
The potential benefits of this
research are immense. Not only does it provide an environmentally friendly
solution to waste management, but it also opens up new job opportunities
through the production of various products.
Kindole is currently in the final
stages of his research, confident that his findings will be implemented to
significantly reduce environmental pollution.
Ezekiel Kaswagula, a visitor to the
demonstration tents, emphasized the importance of education in waste
separation.
"What needs to be done in the
future is to provide education on the separation of these wastes," he
said. "Hotels selling such foods should know how to put what is needed on
the side and not mix with other wastes to facilitate ease in retrieval."
This initiative underscores the
potential for innovative solutions in waste management and the importance of
community education and cooperation in making these solutions viable.
With continued support and development,
Kindole's research could revolutionize the way we think about waste and
sustainability.