Trash to art: How an enterprise is turning waste into treasure in Gombe

In an effort to address issues of waste disposal, the Women Recyclers Empowerment Initiative empowers women in local communities by paying them to recycle plastics. Not only does the initiative address waste issues, but it also allows women to become financially independent. So far, 40 women have participated in the initiative.

In an effort to reduce plastic waste, recycling centers like Recyclift Recycling Technology Company collect plastic waste and crush it into processed pellets to be repurposed. The company employs over 50 people, all working toward the goal of crushing 100 tons of plastic each week.

To avoid the waste that would incur from demolishing structures such as houses and apartment buildings, a reuse center in Maryland works with deconstruction crews to disassemble the buildings and then sells the salvaged materials at a reduced cost. Although "the trend is hardly noticed," this type of movement has spread across the United States and is mostly led by women.

Students are paving the path for a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future in Azerbaijan. In a state that doesn't sort its garbage, this group of student-volunteers started "Papillon," a project aimed at up-cycling discarded waste into useful and aesthetic interior decorations and accessories.

Los Angeles is partnering with two nonprofits, the Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative (LANI) and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC), to accelerate sidewalk repairs ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. LANI has spent over two decades helping council districts fix broken sidewalks more cheaply and flexibly than the city's official process, and LACC pairs the repair work with paid job training for youth ages 18–26, with 30 participants already completing the program.

The Walls Project is using public murals, youth programming, and community volunteering to address blight and disinvestment in South Dallas. Since partnering with the city of Dallas in 2019, the organization has installed more than 14 murals across North Texas, generated over $6 million in economic opportunities for artists, and mobilized nearly 1,200 volunteers to address more than 860 instances of blight between 2020 and 2024. Community members report that murals have deterred vandalism, attracted visitors, and boosted neighborhood pride.

The Hope Work Initiative by Atlantic City's Homeless Outreach Unit connects unhoused community members with temporary employment cleaning up the city streets for three days a week, making $75 a day.

Germany is a world leader in recycling, specifically in the city of Kiel, which was recently declared a “zero waste” city. The city achieved this status through a series of eco-friendly initiatives, aimed at increasing recycling and reducing waste, from bans on single-use items to bottle buyback programs to simply encouraging locals to make more environmentally-friendly behavior changes.

Generous Design Africa works to reduce plastic pollution through upcycling and recycling. The group recycles plastic and makes products like rulers, cups, and buttons, that are sold for profit. Generous Design Africa also holds two monthly trainings to teach locals about plastic recycling and the dangers of plastic pollution. So far, more than 100 people have attended the training.

Shacks on Racks relocates houses and works to make homeownership more accessible to area workers. Since starting in 2016, the non-profit has relocated 21 houses. For those 21 saved houses, Shacks on Racks estimates they’ve spared landfills more than 1.2 million pounds of waste.