environment 25 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Arua Residents Transform Plastic Waste into Income While Cleaning Up City
In Arua City, young collectors like 13-year-old Samson Anguyo scour streets and homes for plastic waste, selling it to recycling centers for daily earnings of up to Shs35,000. This initiative not only provides livelihoods but also reduces pollution, prevents flooding, and protects health by clearing litter from drains and mosquito breeding sites. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/arua-city-residents-turn-plastic-waste-into-money-5403530
Residents of Arua City are turning the plastic waste crisis into an economic opportunity. Starting as early as 7am, 13-year-old Samson Anguyo roams bars, roadsides, trenches, and compounds with a sack, gathering discarded plastics. He sells them at collection points in Awindiri Cell, earning about Shs35,000 daily after dropping out of school and joining friends in the trade.
This grassroots effort addresses Arua’s severe plastic pollution problem, where bottles, jerry cans, and bags litter streets, clog drains, and cause flooding during rains. Residents like Jolly Lenia and Salima Salma highlight how plastics, valued for being light and cheap, end up polluting environments and endangering lives. Collectors prevent these issues by removing waste before it reaches waterways.
Health risks are significant: discarded containers breed mosquitoes, while animals ingest plastics or get entangled, leading to injuries or death. Arua authorities have placed bins citywide, but usage remains low. Mayor-elect Lawrence Alionzi prioritizes waste management with better budgets and equipment.
Companies like Ewuata Composite process up to 50 tonnes of garbage daily, segregating non-decomposables for recycling. Site manager Godfrey Onyuthfua emphasizes controlled decomposition to cut greenhouse gases and ban open burning, which harms health and climate.
Environmentalist William Amanzuru calls for policies on biodegradable plastics, taxes, and local alternatives like palm materials. Nationally, Nema’s 2023–2028 Plastics Circularity Strategy promotes reuse and recycling, aligning with SDGs. A 2024 study notes Uganda recycled 12,330 tonnes of polyethylene from 2018-2021, with potential growth.
This collector-driven model creates jobs, conserves resources, and fosters cleaner communities, proving collective action works.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)