Zamkanda recycles biodegradable waste by processing it into organic compost, ensuring the reduction of Co2 emissions in the process and benefitting the unemployed/uneducated youths and individuals as much as possible by hiring them on a part-time basis.
Addressing climate change through sustainable waste management, specifically food waste as it makes up more than 50% of the total waste that is produced in Zambia.
In the striving to address climate change in Zambia, most waste management companies recycle waste other than food waste or biodegradable waste. Other waste management companies just dump the waste at the Chunga Sanitary landfill in Lusaka. Food thrown out at the landfill starts to rot and produces methane, which is one of the main causes of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Therefore, Zamkanda chose to focus on food waste and the production of organic compost.
Waste separation.
Processing food waste
Considering equity by offering employment to day laborers
Reducing CO2 emissions
Production of organic compost is much cheaper than chemical fertilizer.
A contribution to increase soil health in Zambia.
The initiative is led by a team made up of solar experts, environmentalists, and other individuals passionate about climate change. The target market comprises government institutions), organic farmers, small scale farmers, the hospitality industry, organizations committed to reducing GHS (e.g. NGOs and UN organizations), nurseries and middle-class households practicing gardening. Zamkanda uses a business modelling canvas: they collect food waste from organizations operating a kitchen or canteen, such as hotels and schools. In future, they plan to offer fee-based collection of food waste from organizations and middle-class households, waste audits and waste management training for organizations and communities. They also consider equity, targeting the unemployed and uneducated youths and individuals.
From the time they started to date, they have had over 100 beneficiaries who benefitted from day labor.
A core team of six individuals have received a weekly stipend since October 2022.
So far, Zamkanda has collected 265,608.18 kg of food waste from May 2022 to July 2023 which translates into abatement of 265.6 tons of Co2 emissions.
The team has environmental specialists who give technical advice regarding the environment as they do their work. The team also has members experienced in project management, marketing, capacity building, and business administration. The combined efforts of the team give Zamkanda the capacity to operate and run smoothly.
The Zamkanda work, in terms of implementation, is incurring a mixture of startup costs and operational costs simultaneously. This is so because the team did not receive the full grant amount that was to be used as startup capital and has felt the need to have data that can be a reference point, hence being operational. This has made it challenging to assess economic viability as some adjustments have been made. Currently, the team now has placed emphasis on finding a ready market that has an interest in environmental issues and would be willing to buy compost from us. Right now, boarding other revenue streams, such as training and consultancy, puts the team in an economically viable space.
Zamkanda is a registered company limited by guarantee and registered with ZRA, with a company account with Indo Zambia Bank. The initiative received a positive response from the Lusaka City Council (LCC), and they are currently in the process of signing an MOU with Lusaka City Council and obtaining a recycling license. The go ahead by LCC will allow them to roll out their approach across all wards in Lusaka.
The initiative was born in December 2021. Since then, they have gained substantial experience with managing the collection and processing of food waste.
The collection of 265,608.18 kg of food waste in Lusaka.
Scaling deep: There is potential for scaling deep as we are currently in the process of introducing this initiative in one of the wards in Lusaka through another NGO.
Scaling out: Scaling out is very possible if resources allow, as the initiative can be easily replicated in other locations.
Interest in organic farming and organic produce is steadily growing in Zambia. Zamkanda has reached out to various organic farmers, some of whom have bought their compost, and individuals and companies with an interest in organic gardening. One of the few organic grocery stores sells Zamkanda compost. We take part in the monthly Green Gathering, which attracts people interested in organic products and organic farming.
Other NGOs active in sustainable waste management as collaborators or clients, such as Borda Zambia: they are in the process of signing a contract with them that will help Zamkanda reach out to communities and engage the unemployed youths in sustainable waste management and taking care of their environment.
Local authorities: Zamkanda is in the process of signing an MOU with Lusaka City Council (LLC) who came through to do a site visit and see our work in March 2023. Having them onboard is something that will help make scaling deep smoother for the team as the local authorities encompass the councilors for the communities in Lusaka