Participation of Women Artisans in the Fight Against Garbage - Senegal

Women in a Senegal community are engaging in artisanal production of fuel briquettes made from recycled paper. This project, “Participation des Femmes Artisanes à la Lutte Contre les Ordures Ménagères,” is also working to reduce use of plastic bags. The work is empowering local craftswomen while improving local waste management.

Fast facts:

240 people involved
Waste transformed into cleaner-burning briquettes for fuel
Community of 30,000 benefitted

The problem
Household waste, such as paper and plastic, is piling in the Senegalese town of Fatick. It litters roadsides, polluting the land and water, as well as making for unsightly and unhygienic conditions.

The solution
Women in Fatick are collecting waste, transforming paper into a paste that is pressed into briquettes for burning as fuel. They are also working to prevent the burning of discarded plastic bags, which releases a number of toxic chemicals.

Helping the planet
Recycling reduces litter, helping prevent pollution of the land, water, and air. That the project provides an alternative, cleaner-burning source of fuel could further help prevent air pollution, and reduce dependency on firewood or fossil fuels.

Helping people
Women get a chance to earn money through sale of recycled products. The town as a whole benefits from less litter.

Spillover effect
In Senegal, managing household waste is the woman’s responsibility. As such, the project could be replicated to benefit other female populations in the country. In fact, craftswomen in the nearby commune of Gossas have already been drawing inspiration from the project.