Organic waste management in Ethiopia faces significant challenges, largely due to limited infrastructure, low public awareness, and economic constraints. The country generates large volumes of organic waste that are often uncollected and improperly processed, leading to environmental degradation, health risks, and missed opportunities for resource recovery. In response, Eco-Justice Ethiopia (EJE) is working to strengthen the capacities of waste pickers and small composting groups, providing training and skills to improve the efficiency and impact of their operations.
EJE’s efforts are part of the larger “Mainstreaming Organic Waste Management Across 11 Countries” project, implemented by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) with funding from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). This initiative seeks to mitigate methane emissions by promoting source separation of waste and diverting organic materials from landfills, aligning with EJE’s mission to advance environmental sustainability and community well-being.
Through its partnership with GAIA, EJE has expanded its advocacy capabilities, gaining access to technical expertise, global networks, and funding. This collaboration has allowed the organisation to engage with other groups working on zero-waste solutions, amplifying its impact across Ethiopia and the region. EJE highlights that informal waste pickers play a crucial role in recycling and waste reduction, yet they often lack recognition, support, and protection under current systems.
Under the CCAC project, EJE has conducted capacity-building trainings for micro and small composting groups, policy engagement with government agencies, site visits to composting associations, and advocacy through documentary films like Beyond the Trash, which highlights the challenges faced by informal waste pickers in Addis Ababa. These initiatives have strengthened working relationships with waste pickers, improved awareness of sustainable practices, and fostered discussions on safer working conditions.
EJE also stresses that effective waste management intersects with social justice. Informal waste workers often face unsafe conditions, economic precarity, and marginalisation, while compost makers contribute significantly to sustainable waste systems without institutional support. EJE addresses these issues by advocating for fair wages, safer work environments, social protections, and formal recognition of waste workers as key stakeholders in policy development.
Looking ahead, EJE anticipates the need for increased funding, stronger policy enforcement, expanded training programs, and greater public awareness campaigns to sustain its advocacy and strengthen organic waste management in Ethiopia. Guided by the principles that a clean environment is a human right, sustainability depends on inclusion, and justice is central to environmental action, Eco-Justice Ethiopia works to ensure that environmental progress uplifts marginalized communities and empowers waste pickers and composters as leaders in sustainable solutions.
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