@Therespondent
Amid Tanzania’s mounting waste management challenges, the Tanzania Recyclers Association (TARA) is quietly reshaping how the country sees, manages, and benefits from its waste.
Since its establishment in 2019, the association has grown into a leading voice for sustainable recycling, waste valorization, and social inclusion, building a future where the informal sector is no longer on the fringes but at the forefront of environmental and economic progress.
With over 2,000 informal waste pickers formalized and more than 65 organizations and 50 individual experts actively engaged in its network, TARA is proving that inclusive environmental action is not only possible but vital.
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The organization brings together stakeholders from across the recycling chain—from waste pickers and startups to researchers, local authorities, and global development partners—all working toward a shared goal of transforming waste into opportunity.
TARA’s voluntary membership includes 41% startup businesses and social enterprises, 28% NGOs and community-based organizations, 18% companies, and 13% individual consultants.
“Our mission is not just to clean the environment but to clean the system by recognizing and integrating the efforts of those who’ve been working at the margins,” said Henry Kazula, TARA’s National Coordinator and founder of HEKA Water Filters Tanzania and Jielimishe Kwanza Company-training & consultancy for Sustainability.
He emphasizes that waste pickers are not the problem—they are part of the solution, and with the right support and policies, they can become green entrepreneurs and frontline climate actors.
Under the leadership of Eng. Allen Kimambo, TARA’s Executive Director and co-founder of Zaidi Recyclers, the association has driven capacity-building programs, policy advocacy, and national campaigns to promote Zero Waste practices and elevate the role of SMEs in recycling.
Through targeted training programs, public awareness campaigns, and active partnerships with institutions like the National Environmental Management Council (NEMC), TARA has become a trusted stakeholder in both communities and policy spaces.
Its influence is visible in its work on policy development for used lead-acid batteries and sustainable marine plastics management.
TARA’s work is rooted in practicality—upcycling, recycling, and composting are seen not just as environmental acts but as pathways to job creation, especially for youth and women.
Through a sectoral cluster approach, TARA tailors solutions to specific waste streams like plastics, e-waste, glass, textiles, and organics, aligning them with national development strategies and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Supporting green startups through platforms like the Tanzania Green Business Expo and the Green Challenge Fund, TARA fosters innovation while creating jobs.
Its belief in customized solutions rather than one-size-fits-all strategies makes it adaptable to a wide range of challenges across the recycling sector.
Despite its largely volunteer-driven model, TARA has earned a reputation as a reliable partner in Tanzania’s evolving waste ecosystem.
The journey ahead may be demanding, but the association remains steadfast in its conviction that a cleaner, more inclusive future is achievable.
In Tanzania, waste is no longer merely a problem to discard—it is a resource to reclaim, a workforce to empower, and a foundation upon which a greener, more resilient future can be built.
