The Government of Tanzania has unveiled a new strategy aimed at improving solid waste management and enhancing cleanliness in urban areas across the country, as part of broader efforts to promote public health, environmental protection, and sustainable urban development.
The initiative was highlighted on May 12, 2026, in Dodoma during the annual evaluation meeting on the implementation of solid waste management and urban sanitation interventions.
The meeting brought together senior government officials, development partners, and environmental experts to assess progress and chart the way forward for improving waste management systems.
Opening the meeting, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG), Prof. Riziki Shemdoe, said the government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan is committed to ensuring that cities and settlements remain clean, safe, and environmentally sustainable.
Prof. Shemdoe emphasized that local government authorities must strengthen systems for efficient waste collection and management.
He said the government expects councils to improve their performance so that sanitation units can generate more revenue and reinvest it into improving services.
He reiterated the government’s directive that 10 percent of revenue collected from waste management activities should be reinvested into sanitation services.
According to him, this approach will strengthen operational capacity and ensure continuity of essential environmental services.
He further noted that the government is collaborating with development partners, including Japan, to introduce modern waste treatment and recycling technologies.
These innovations are expected to provide long-term solutions to the growing challenge of solid waste management in rapidly urbanizing areas.
Prof. Shemdoe said pilot projects involving advanced waste incineration and recycling technologies are already being prepared in selected towns.
These initiatives are expected to transform waste management practices from traditional disposal methods into more sustainable systems focused on recycling and resource recovery.
He also directed all local government authorities to establish designated dumping and landfill sites to reduce environmental pollution and prevent disease outbreaks.
He noted that some councils still lack proper waste disposal infrastructure, which continues to undermine sanitation efforts.
In addition, he encouraged youth and women to take advantage of the 10 percent local government loans to invest in waste collection, recycling, and processing activities.
He said waste should be seen as an economic resource that can generate employment and income if properly managed.
Prof. Shemdoe highlighted that materials such as plastic bottles can be collected and sold to recycling companies, thereby creating income opportunities while contributing to cleaner environments.
He stressed that waste management should be integrated into broader economic empowerment strategies.
He also linked improved sanitation to public health benefits, noting that better cleanliness has already contributed to a reduction in disease outbreaks such as cholera in some parts of the country.
He said reducing disease burden also helps the government save resources that can be redirected to other development priorities.
He insisted that environmental cleanliness must remain a permanent agenda item at all levels of government decision-making, from regional authorities to village administrations.
The Regional Commissioner of Dodoma, Rosemary Senyamule, said the region has significantly increased its budget for environmental sanitation from 750 million shillings to 3 billion shillings for the 2026/27 financial year.
She said the funds will be used to procure sanitation equipment, strengthen waste collection systems, and enhance public awareness on environmental protection.
She noted that Dodoma is committed to improving urban cleanliness standards as it continues to grow as the country’s administrative capital.
On the technical side, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (TAMISEMI) responsible for health matters, Prof. Tumaini Nagu, said the government will continue strengthening sanitation units in local authorities to improve efficiency and service delivery in urban areas.
He emphasized that effective waste management systems are essential for protecting public health and preventing environmental degradation in rapidly growing cities.
Providing technical insights, the Assistant Director for Climate Change and Assessment from the Vice President’s Office, Dr. Kanizio Manyika, said Tanzania generates more than 17 million tonnes of solid waste annually.
He revealed that between 60 and 75 percent of this waste is not properly collected, resulting in significant environmental challenges.
He warned that unmanaged waste poses serious risks to ecosystems, water sources, and human health, underscoring the need for modern and integrated waste management systems.
From the Ministry of Health, Joseph Birango said data shows that six out of ten diseases affecting communities are linked to environmental pollution and poor sanitation systems.
He stressed the importance of continuous public education on hygiene to reduce disease outbreaks and healthcare costs.
He added that improved environmental sanitation would significantly reduce pressure on the health system and allow more resources to be directed toward other priority health services.
Earlier, the Chairperson of Waste Management and Environmental Sanitation Units in Mainland Tanzania, William Mpangala from Bahi District, called on the government to ensure that the 10 percent revenue allocation from waste management activities is consistently returned to sanitation services.
He said this would strengthen accountability and improve service delivery at local government level.
Overall, the meeting reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming solid waste management in Tanzania through policy reforms, technological innovation, increased investment, and stronger community participation.
The strategy is expected to improve urban cleanliness, create employment opportunities, and strengthen environmental sustainability across the country.
