The sea is one of the greatest victims of man. Just to give you an idea, around 11 tons were recently removed from the sea in the city of Beira, Sofala province. This was yet another marine clean-up action, in which recyclable and therefore economical waste was also sought.
Cleaning the sea was one of the best ways to celebrate World Earth Day, April 22, in the city of Beira, the stage for the official launch of the “Blue Coins” project, an initiative of the Mozambican Recycling Association (AMOR), marked by a massive clean-up action on Praia do Estoril. The activity involved around 395 participants.
With the aim of giving economic value to recyclable waste, the “Blue Coins” project proposes a financial incentive system based on the amount of waste collected. Through payment per ton, AMOR aims to reduce the negative impacts of urban waste, while also creating income-generating opportunities for collectors and local communities. According to the organization’s data, 10.8 of the 11,292 tons collected were the direct result of the waste pickers’ work.
“We want to prove that waste has value. If it is treated well, it can be a tool for social transformation,” said Eloge Mukuta, AMOR’s digital technician, during a press conference. He also stressed the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors to ensure the success of projects like this.
The clean-up day involved not only AMOR members, but also representatives of several civil society organizations and public institutions, including the Healthy Living Association (AVS), the FACE Water and Sanitation Association, ACTAG, Geração Saudável (AGS), the Provincial Directorate of Land and Environment (DPDTA), the Mozambican Hope Association (AEM), the Beira Municipal Council (CMB), the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM), the coastal police, as well as media outlets such as TVA and ICS.
In addition to waste collection, the event had a strong educational component, promoting environmental awareness among participants and the local population. Representing FACE, Olivia Gotino reinforced the importance of individual responsibility: “By polluting, we harm ourselves. If we cannot correct what we did wrong, at least we should avoid repeating the mistakes. Every citizen has a role to play in preserving the environment.”
Some of the waste pickers present shared the positive impacts of the project on their lives, stating that the income obtained from selling waste has been essential to cover basic needs such as food and education for their children. At the end of the event, AMOR reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development and defended the importance of ongoing community mobilization to build a cleaner, more inclusive and environmentally responsible future.
(By Renaldo Manhice)
