Innovative waste management initiative lights up CSO Week

Arusha. As part of the CSO Week 2024 outreach activities, a group of participants on Wednesday visited a ground-breaking community-based initiative in Arusha that focuses on sustainable waste management and climate action.

The initiative is known as Chanzi and its innovative approach involves using black soldier fly larvae to convert food waste into a rich protein source for animal feed.

This process not only addresses environmental challenges such as waste management, but also provides economic opportunities for the local community, leaving participants highly impressed and inspired.

Founded by Sune Mushendu, Chanzi is tackling the issue of organic waste disposal, a significant problem in Tanzania, where a formal waste collection system is often lacking.

The visit highlighted the scale of Chanzi’s operations and the potential impact of their waste-to-protein production model.

By utilising black soldier fly larvae, Chanzi transforms organic waste into high-protein feed for livestock, creating a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to both waste disposal and animal nutrition.

At the heart of Chanzi’s process is the daily collection and breeding of black soldier fly larvae.

The larvae, known for their ability to rapidly decompose organic waste, are grown from eggs collected on a daily basis.

Each day, Chanzi collects approximately 40 kilogrammes of larvae eggs, which are incubated to produce larvae within seven days.

This process yields 800 grams of larvae protein for every kilogram of food waste, creating a highly efficient system of protein production.

The protein is then used as feed for various types of livestock, providing an affordable and sustainable alternative to traditional animal feed.

In addition to producing protein, Chanzi also generates valuable by-products.

The remains from the larvae production process are converted into organic fertiliser, which is sold to local farmers.

This organic compost helps enrich soil quality, contributing to improved agricultural yields while reducing the reliance on chemical fertilisers.

The ability to produce both high-protein animal feed and organic fertiliser from food waste makes Chanzi’s model a holistic solution to multiple environmental challenges. The initiative’s current capacity allows it to process 15 tonnes of food waste per day, with plans to scale up operations to 100 tonnes daily.

This increase would enable Chanzi to manage nearly all of the organic waste generated in Arusha, significantly reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.

The project has already begun collecting waste from nearby households, hotels, and local markets, directly addressing the city’s waste management challenges.

Given that Tanzania lacks a centralised waste collection system, Chanzi has taken proactive steps by partnering with local communities and visiting landfills to gather food waste.

During the visit, participants were introduced to Chanzi’s expansion efforts through the creation of a sister company, Okota.

Okota was established in response to the high demand for waste collection and aims to gather all organic waste in Arusha before it reaches landfills.

This new venture not only contributes to Chanzi’s goal of managing 100 tonnes of waste per day but also addresses the need for improved waste collection systems in Tanzania.

The twin company operations will also create a significant number of new jobs, with plans to employ up to 600 people in the near future.

Currently, Chanzi and Okota provide employment to at least 80 workers, with that number expected to increase as the waste collection efforts expand.

A key part of the discussion during the visit focused on the broader community benefits provided by Chanzi.

Beyond waste management and environmental conservation, the project is creating local employment opportunities, which are crucial in a region where job opportunities can be scarce.

As Chanzi and Okota scale up their operations, they are expected to provide even more jobs, not just in waste collection and processing but also in related industries such as compost production and distribution.

By empowering the local community with job creation, Chanzi is contributing to both environmental sustainability and economic development.

Despite these successes, Chanzi does face challenges, particularly in securing a consistent supply of food waste.

The unpredictability of waste availability has been an ongoing issue, but Chanzi is actively working to improve its collection networks.

By engaging more local businesses, households, and institutions, the project hopes to establish a more reliable flow of organic waste to meet its growing production demands.

Participants left the site deeply impressed by the scale and ambition of the Chanzi project.

The initiative demonstrates how community-driven solutions can effectively tackle environmental issues such as waste management while generating economic and social benefits.

Chanzi’s success in converting food waste into valuable products like protein feed and organic fertiliser serves as a model for how similar projects can be implemented across Tanzania and other regions facing waste management challenges.

In addition to its environmental impact, the project highlights the importance of civil society’s role in driving change. By addressing both ecological concerns and local employment needs, Chanzi is setting an example of how innovation and community action can lead to sustainable development.

The outreach visit provided valuable insights into how grassroots initiatives like Chanzi can align with broader climate action goals and contribute to a more sustainable future.