Plastic pollution is one of the most urgent environmental challenges facing communities across Africa. In Victoria Falls — where tourism, wildlife, and local livelihoods intersect — unmanaged plastic waste threatens public spaces, ecosystems, and iconic wildlife such as elephants. At the centre of Ele-Collection’s response is something powerful: women. What began with just seven women has grown into a 33‑member, women-led collection network transforming plastic waste into income, dignity, and environmental protection.
A Women-Led Collection Model That Works
Ele-Collection operates a structured, community-based collection system that recognises plastic as a resource with value. The women collectors form the operational backbone of this system and fall into three groups: • In-house collectors – The original seven women who helped build and test the model. • Dumpsite collectors – Fourteen women formally integrated from the local dumpsite, creating safer, more stable income streams. • Informal community collectors – Twelve women collecting from streets, neighbourhoods, and public areas. Together, they demonstrate how practical environmental action can drive women’s economic empowerment in Zimbabwe.
From Waste to Income
Victoria Falls generates roughly 100 tonnes of plastic each month. Ele-Collection currently recovers between 20 and 40 tonnes monthly — plastic that would otherwise be burned, buried, or enter natural ecosystems. Collectors are paid US$0.10 per kilogram. On average, each woman gathers 80–100kg per day, earning US$8–10 daily. In communities where families often survive on minimal income, this creates meaningful financial stability. Plastic becomes more than waste — it becomes opportunity.
More Than Just Income
Many collectors come through programmes such as the Zion City Foundation, where they gain life skills, discipline, and leadership training. The work provides dignity, purpose, and pride alongside income. As one collector explains: “Being part of Ele-Collection makes me feel proud and motivated. The plastic I collect helps protect our environment, supports my family, and creates a cleaner future. It is not just about money; it is about positive change.”
Scaling Women in the Green Economy
With far more plastic generated than currently collected, Ele-Collection plans to expand the collector network. Growth will mean:
• Cleaner streets and ecosystems
• Reduced plastic leakage into wildlife corridors
• Increased economic participation for women
• Stronger community resilience
This is what women-led climate action looks like on the ground.
In Victoria Falls, environmental solutions are not abstract policies — they are carried in bags, weighed in kilograms, and powered by women.
Written by Hannah Godfrey
