Eco-Lab, an inclusive and sustainable initiative
In terms of waste management, small islands all face a common problem: lack of space.
Due to population growth and changes in consumption patterns, islands are generating more waste. And the situation becomes more worrying because of the low level of awareness of the population regarding the problem of waste management, as well as a limited capacity for treatment and recycling.
Faced with this alarming report, the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) decided to act through the Eco-Lab project. It is an initiative of the IOC ISLANDS project, funded by the European Union. The project has been deployed in all islands of Indianoceania and Zanzibar (Tanzania).
Smart and inclusive recycling
Eco-Lab allows the implementation of intelligent and inclusive recycling.
How does it works ? Women are at the core of the process. Selected by local NGOs, they are responsible for recycling the waste they find in the street, and transform them into useful products, or even accessories that are sold later. This upcycling makes it possible to value the most common non-biodegradable waste, such as glass and plastic bottles, cans and paper.
Eco-Lab allows both recycling waste and also generate income for vulnerable women, unemployed, thus developing their capacity for action for them and their families.
An educational project
The project also includes an educational component: the IOC published in 2017 an educational manual, illustrated and easy to access, explaining step by step the stages of making and processing of the waste previously collected. In addition, for each type of waste, key terms are explained in order to provide all the necessary information to “recyclers”. All this is supported by data and advice, so that everyone can, with simple actions, reduce the pollution associated with each type of waste.
