More than 45 volunteers collected 50 bags (250 kg) of waste from Mbezi Beach, then audited a sample to find out what it was and which brands it came from.
On 21 September 2026, UNESCO Tanzania and WEMASA marked World Cleanup Day with a cleanup at Rainbow Beach (Mbezi Beach) in Dar es Salaam. The theme this year was “Strive for Five: From Clean Plates to Clean Cities”.
From 7 am to midday, more than 45 volunteers, UNESCO staff and local community groups combed the beach and filled 50 bags with 250 kg of waste.
What the audit found
Volunteers then carried out a waste and brand audit on a 5% sample of the waste (5 full bags). Plastic bags were by far the most common item, with 150 counted, followed by other plastic bottles (67) and baby diapers (35).
The brand count put MeTL first, mainly because of Mo Extra drinks, followed by Mango Juice from U-Fresh Food Ltd and Tanga Fresh from Tanga Fresh Limited.
Beyond one day
Cleanups alone cannot solve waste pollution. Figures like these give communities, local authorities and producers evidence to act on, and WEMASA will keep up year-round education, community mobilisation and data collection so the movement lasts beyond World Cleanup Day.
Thank you to UNESCO Tanzania, local government authorities, community leaders, volunteers, youth and media partners who made the day a success. Asante sana!
