DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania—Waste Free Oceans (WFO) and Eco Eyewear have teamed up to launch a waste-catching barrier in the Feza River, a river located in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam. Alongside local partner The Recyclers, the two companies installed a barrier that will capture plastic waste that would otherwise end up in the Indian Ocean. This captured waste will then be collected, recycled and repurposed, with some of it being transformed into eco-friendly products.

WFO is a non-profit organization that mobilizes the fisheries sector, the plastics industry, policymakers and the public, to reduce the impact of marine litter on ocean environments and natural resources.

To ensure transparency and track the impact of the project, the partners will release monthly reports detailing the amount of waste collected, recycled and repurposed, in addition to insights into the environmental benefits of the initiative and its contribution to creating local job opportunities. The first of these reports, which document the efforts in July 2024, was just released and is available to read online here. In total, the partners captured 249kg (around 549lbs), mainly composed of plastic bottles and other residual waste.

Alexandre Dangis, president of Waste Free Oceans, said, “We are excited to collaborate with Eco Eyewear to bring this solution to Dar es Salaam’s Feza River. Together, we are taking meaningful action to reduce plastic waste and foster a more sustainable future.”