Two years ago, the members of Ele-Collection put their heads together, searching for solutions that could drain all the plastic that is entering Victoria Falls and lock it away for good. No simple solution could be found.
A while later, on the 8th of October, 2021, a much-loved anti-poaching ranger, Clever Kapandura, was trampled by an elephant. This sent shockwaves through the entire Victoria Falls community. Only two weeks later, Simon Teede (Business Operations Director) and Larry Norton were attacked by an enraged bull elephant while on a run along the Batoka Gorge. They narrowly survived this inexplicable attack and we began to wonder what could cause a wild elephant to behave so aggressively and out of character.
Several days after that incident, yet another resident of Victoria Falls was killed by an angry elephant. Sadly, the bull was shot, and vets performed an autopsy searching for the cause of this animal's strange behaviour. It did not take the vets long to discover that the poor elephant had a stomach full of plastic. Local herds were coming into town to consume our food waste, getting poisoned by plastic and going mad. It was time to take action.
With a new sense of urgency, we discovered the plastic-to-aggregate solution and our journey began. Gradually, the team grew and Ele-Collection found its feet. Many organisations and individuals contributed their time and guidance to bring our dream into reality. Today we stand before you with a solution to end this crisis. With your help, we can put an end to plastic.
100 tons of plastic waste is entering Victoria Falls every month. Wildlife - including elephants, buffalo, and baboons - are ingesting plastic found near urban edges, leading to a condition known as plasticosis, where their digestive tracts are poisoned, leading to fatal consequences.
With over 800,000 tourists visiting each year and a rapidly growing residential population, municipal waste systems are overwhelmed. The result? Illegal dumps sprouting on the borders of national parks and the city dump frequently being set on fire - releasing harmful toxins into the air, damaging both human and environmental health.
We will leave the wild spaces of Southern Africa in pristine condition, free from the plastic waste that has been choking our ecology.
But this isn’t just about cleaning up. It’s about building something better. We aim to create meaningful, income-generating opportunities for local communities, turning plastic recovery into sustainable livelihoods.
Plastic waste is creeping into the national parks of Sub-Saharan Africa. We aim to replicate our model across many wild spaces and communities in need. Our region has been waiting for a solution that can close the loop on unmanaged waste. Ele-Collection is ready to tackle this problem at scale.
At Ele-Collection, our strength lies in our people. We're a dedicated team of collectors, innovators, and conservationists united by a single mission: protecting Southern Africa's wildlife from plastic pollution.
General Manager
Compliance Officer
CEO
Advisor to the Board
Technical Director
Chairman
Financial Analyst
Marketing Director
Keeping your community clean and green, one pickup at a time for a healthier tomorrow for a clean earth & clear future.
