Clean Shores, Great Lakes: 25,000 Kilograms of Litter Collected and a Movement for Change
Plastic pollution has become one of the most visible environmental challenges of our time. While much attention is given to ocean pollution, freshwater ecosystems are also under growing pressure. Across East Africa, the African Great Lakes, particularly Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Nyasa, are increasingly affected by plastic waste that accumulates along their shorelines and eventually breaks down into microplastics.
To respond to this challenge, scientists and community partners launched the Clean Shores, Great Lakes initiative in 2022. The project combines scientific research, citizen science, and community action to better understand and reduce plastic pollution across the Tanzanian shorelines of the Great Lakes. In this interview, Farhan Khan shares the story behind the initiative, the progress made so far, and the vision for protecting these vital freshwater ecosystems.
From Scientific Discovery to Community-Led Environmental Action
The idea behind Clean Shores, Great Lakes grew out of years of scientific collaboration between Farhan Khan and Bahati Mayoma. Their work focused on understanding plastic and microplastic pollution in both inland and coastal waters of Tanzania.
One of the most significant milestones in this research came in 2016, when a study led by Biginagwa and colleagues documented microplastics in fish from Lake Victoria, providing the first scientific evidence that plastic pollution had already entered the freshwater food chain in the region (Biginagwa et al., 2016).
The discovery raised serious concerns about environmental health, fisheries sustainability, and potential risks to people who depend on the lake for food.
“Those findings were a wake-up call,” explains Khan. “They showed that plastic pollution was not just an ocean problem, it was already present in the lakes that millions of people rely on every day.”
Recognizing both the scale of the problem and the lack of coordinated response, the research team began designing a project that would move beyond research and actively involve communities in tackling plastic pollution.
Building a Regional Partnership
In 2022, the Clean Shores, Great Lakes initiative was formally launched through a partnership between several organizations. These included NORCE Norwegian Research Centre in Norway, University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, the Environmental Management and Economic Development Organization (EMEDO), and ARENA Recycling Industry.
The initiative received funding from Handelens Miljøfond, enabling the project team to mobilize communities and begin coordinated shoreline clean-ups and environmental monitoring activities. More details about the project can be found here:
https://cleanshoresgreatlakes.norceresearch.no/
The project focuses on the Tanzanian shorelines of the three major African Great Lakes—Victoria, Tanganyika, and Nyasa—where plastic waste often accumulates due to population growth, inadequate waste management systems, and increasing use of single-use plastics.
Citizen Science at the Heart of the Project
A unique feature of the Clean Shores, Great Lakes initiative is its strong emphasis on citizen science. Rather than relying only on researchers, the project trains local volunteers as environmental ambassadors. These community members play a central role in organizing clean-ups, collecting scientific data on litter types, and raising awareness about waste management in their communities.
“Citizen science allows communities to become part of the research process. It also helps people understand the scale of the problem in their own environment,”Khan explains.
During clean-ups, volunteers carefully record the types and quantities of litter collected. This data helps scientists identify pollution trends and understand the most common sources of waste entering the lakes.
Significant Results on the Ground
Since the initiative began, the response from local communities has been remarkable.
To date, the project has organized 69 shoreline clean-up activities along the Tanzanian Great Lakes. More than 5,000 volunteers have participated in these efforts, demonstrating strong community commitment to protecting freshwater ecosystems. Together, the volunteers have collected over 25,000 kilograms of litter from lake shorelines.
Data analysis shows that plastic waste accounts for about 75 percent of all collected debris. Among the most common items are plastic drink bottles and plastic bags, which together represent roughly 40 percent of the litter found during clean-ups. These results highlight the growing challenge posed by single-use plastics and emphasize the need for improved waste management systems. The findings from the clean-up activities have also contributed to scientific research and were recently published in academic literature (Mayoma et al., 2025), strengthening the evidence base on freshwater plastic pollution in East Africa.
Education and Awareness: Reaching the Next Generation
Beyond clean-ups, the initiative has placed strong emphasis on environmental education and public awareness. The project team has visited 21 primary and secondary schools, engaging with more than 3,000 students. During these visits, students learn about the sources of plastic pollution, its impacts on wildlife and human health, and practical steps they can take to reduce waste.
“Young people are incredibly receptive to environmental education. When students understand the issue, they often become powerful advocates for change within their families and communities,”says Khan.
The initiative has also expanded its outreach through digital platforms and traditional media. More than 20 national media outlets in Tanzania have covered the project during clean-ups and community events, helping bring the issue of plastic pollution to national attention.
One example of this coverage can be found here:
https://timesmajira.co.tz/hatua-madhubutu-zahitajika-kudhibiti-taka-plastic-fukwe-za-maziwa-makuu/
Social media has also played an important role in reaching younger audiences. Campaigns run by the project have attracted over 200,000 followers across Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, encouraging youth to adopt more environmentally responsible behaviors.
A short video highlighting the initiative can be viewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkJev0MAZkY
Engaging Policymakers and Industry
While community action is essential, addressing plastic pollution also requires cooperation from governments and industry. To support this dialogue, the project organized a multi-stakeholder dissemination workshop, bringing together representatives from government agencies, including fisheries departments and environmental authorities, as well as local government leaders, researchers, fishing communities, and representatives from the plastic industry.
The workshop provided a platform to discuss the project’s findings and explore practical solutions, including improved waste management systems, stronger recycling initiatives, and policies that support a circular economy. One important area of focus is the analysis of brand audit data collected during clean-ups. By identifying the manufacturers whose products appear most frequently in collected waste, researchers hope to encourage stronger extended producer responsibility policies. These policies would require companies to take greater responsibility for the environmental impact of their products throughout their lifecycle.
The Largest Freshwater Clean-Up Initiative in East Africa
Today, Clean Shores, Great Lakes is recognized as the largest coordinated freshwater shoreline clean-up initiative in East Africa. Through a combination of scientific research, community participation, and policy engagement, the initiative has created a powerful model for addressing environmental challenges in freshwater ecosystems. Yet the team believes there is still much more work to be done.
Looking Ahead: Expanding the Movement
The initial funding for the project covered a two-year period. As that phase concludes, the team is actively seeking additional support to continue and expand the initiative.
“Plastic pollution is a long-term challenge,” says Khan. “Addressing it requires sustained effort, strong partnerships, and continued engagement with communities.”
The vision for the future is ambitious but achievable.
“Through Clean Shores, Great Lakes, we envision a future where communities, scientists, and policymakers work together to reduce plastic pollution at its source-preserving the African Great Lakes ecosystems for millions of people and their rich biodiversity.”
The African Great Lakes are among the world’s most important freshwater systems, supporting fisheries, transportation, agriculture, and drinking water for millions of people across East and Central Africa. Protecting these ecosystems from plastic pollution is not only an environmental responsibility but also a social and economic necessity.
Initiatives like Clean Shores, Great Lakes is a true demonstration that when science, community action, and policy engagement come together, meaningful progress can be made.
Clean Shores, Great Lakes: 25,000 Kilograms of Litter Collected and a Movement for Change
