By Business Insider Reporter
In a powerful display of environmental stewardship, PASS Trust, in collaboration with the Tanzania Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action Initiative (TESCAI), led a high-impact beach cleanup at Rainbow Beach, Dar es Salaam, as part of World Environment Day 2025 commemorations.
Themed “Ending Plastic Pollution,” the event mobilised more than 200 volunteers, including students from the University of Dar es Salaam and Ardhi University, environmental NGOs, and PASS Trust board members and staff.
The initiative aimed to raise awareness of the dangers of plastic waste to Tanzania’s marine ecosystems and promote community-level action to safeguard coastal environments.
“Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond financing agribusiness. It extends to protecting the very natural resources farmers and communities rely on,” said Ms Doreen Mangesho, Director of Finance and Administration at PASS Trust. “This cleanup is a practical demonstration of our responsibility to both people and planet.”
Practical solutions and awareness
PASS Trust contributed reusable branded water bottles, double-compartment waste bins to be installed permanently at Rainbow Beach, and co-branded T-shirts to drive campaign visibility and public engagement.
The event also featured an interactive education session on the importance of climate-smart agriculture, environmental conservation, and youth participation in sustainability.
“It’s no longer an option; it’s a necessity,” said Catherine Mtema, Director of Programs at TESCAI. “This partnership shows how organisations can step out of their sectors to meet the wider call of protecting our environment.”
A crisis demanding urgent action
Tanzania’s coastal and marine environments are under growing threat from plastic pollution.
According to the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), only 34% of plastic waste in Tanzania is properly collected, with the remainder leaking into rivers, lakes, and the ocean – endangering fisheries, marine life, and coastal livelihoods.
The National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) and the National Waste Management Strategy 2025–2030 aim to reverse this trend, yet current figures show that while 70% of Tanzania’s solid waste is recyclable, only 5–10% is recycled.
“It’s encouraging to see organisations like PASS Trust leading by example,” said Grace Komba, a final-year environmental science student and volunteer. “This kind of action makes sustainability feel real – not just something we read about in class.”
A holistic sustainability approach
Known primarily for its support of agribusiness and smallholder farmers, PASS Trust’s participation in World Environment Day reflects a growing commitment to holistic sustainable development – from field to coast.
As plastic pollution threatens tourism, food security, and public health, partnerships like the one between PASS Trust and TESCAI underscore the critical role of cross-sector collaboration in achieving both national and global environmental goals.
“This is about safeguarding the future,” Ms Mangesho concluded. “Whether it’s financing farmers or cleaning beaches, our vision for sustainability is all-encompassing.”
With bold leadership and growing public-private partnerships, Tanzania is taking actionable steps to address one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time.
