Tanzania, UN call for public action to curb ocean plastic waste

Dar es Salaam. As the world prepares to mark World Environment Day on June 5, the Government of Tanzania, the United Nations and environmental stakeholders have called on the public to take family-level responsibility in addressing plastic waste, particularly along ocean shores and urban drainage systems.

Globally, an estimated 11 million metric tonnes of plastics enter the oceans each year—a figure that could nearly triple by 2040 if urgent interventions are not implemented, according to the UN Resident Coordinator in Tanzania, Ms Susan Namondo.

She said more than 800 marine species are currently threatened by plastic pollution through ingestion, entanglement or habitat destruction. Alarmingly, only nine percent of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled.

Addressing journalists in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, Ms Namondo, emphasised the urgent need for public awareness and action to halt the growing plastic crisis.

“It’s truly a crisis. We are producing about 11 million tonnes of plastics a year, much of which ends up in the ocean, where it destroys marine life,” she said.

Ms Namondo also highlighted the Walk and Pick campaign scheduled for June 7, organised by the United Nations as part of this year’s awareness drive.

“This initiative offers an important opportunity to raise awareness and promote collective action. Tanzania made a significant move in 2019 by banning single-use plastic bags and continues to pursue policies that support marine conservation, sustainable waste management, and the blue economy,” she noted.

She called on civil society and local government actors to fully engage in the campaign and push for broader public participation and policy support.

Speaking at the same event, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Country Representative, Ms Clara Makenya, said that the impact of plastic pollution is visible across Tanzania—from coastal areas and wetlands to riverbanks and urban drainage systems.

“This is not just a global issue—it’s a national and local priority. We see the pollution every day, and that’s why an all-of-society response is critical,” she said.

Ms Makenya outlined a three-pronged approach to tackling plastic waste: reducing production and adopting alternatives (upstream), improving sorting, collection, and recycling (midstream), and preventing and cleaning up pollution in ecosystems (downstream).

“Whether it’s reducing, reusing or supporting recycling initiatives, every action counts,” she stressed.

The Director of Compliance and Enforcement at the National Environment Management Council (NEMC), Mr Jamal Baruti, raised concern over a resurgence in plastic use, including practices that contravene current regulations.

“The law allows for specific plastic packaging based on hygiene and product integrity, but some people are misusing these provisions by repurposing the packaging as plastic carry bags. We’ve all witnessed this,” he said.

Mr Baruti also pointed to the challenges posed by neighbouring countries that have not yet imposed similar restrictions, resulting in illegal cross-border movement of plastic products.

“Let’s not forget that much of the plastics reaching the ocean originates from inland areas. We need to double our efforts, because marine animals often end up ingesting this waste, leading to serious harm,” he warned.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Acting Country Manager, Ms Rose Mugashe, said that despite the magnitude of the plastic crisis, progress is achievable through unity and coordinated action.

“What unites us is a shared belief: plastic pollution can be ended—but only through collective action, policy commitment and community ownership,” she said.