Uganda Turns Trash Into Jobs With New Waste Plan

What started as workers collecting plastic scraps to survive is becoming a blueprint for turning Uganda's trash problem into a community income source.

In Nebbi Municipality, casual workers at the overflowing dumping site have been quietly making it work. They collect plastics from the waste and sell them to local buyers at 400 shillings per kilogram. On good days, they earn an extra 4,000 shillings each, doubling their daily municipal pay of just 3,000 shillings.

Now entrepreneur Saviour Markristo sees potential to scale this grassroots effort into something much bigger. He points out that plastics can be sold to processing plants, scrap materials have buyers waiting, and biodegradable waste can become manure for farmers struggling with poor soil.

"There are companies that buy plastic waste, those dealing in scrap recycling and farmers who need manure," Markristo explained. He estimates proper waste management could generate 10 million shillings monthly for the municipality while creating steady jobs.

The need is urgent. Years of dumping waste near the main market have created unbearable smells affecting vendors and food sellers. A broken garbage truck and tight budgets have left the system barely functioning, with workers operating without proper protective gear, especially dangerous during rainy season.

The Ripple Effect

The informal plastic collection workers pioneered is already proving the model works. Their daily efforts show that one person's trash really can become another's income, even without official support or equipment.

Howard Musa, deputy mayor and business councillor, says the municipality has now engaged partners from Mukono Municipality who specialize in waste-to-revenue programs. "We believe through this partnership we will improve the income of casual workers, their conditions, and also maximize our revenue sources," he said.

Farmers across the region need organic fertilizer but can't afford it. Processing biodegradable waste into manure could solve two problems at once, improving crop yields while clearing the dumping site.

The workers who've been sorting through trash in difficult conditions may soon see their side hustle become a real career, with better pay, safety gear, and steady demand for the materials they collect.

After years of treating garbage as a burden to bury, Nebbi is ready to see it as the resource it's always been.