Tariku Asnake, from Bati town in South Wollo in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, once relied on daily labor to make ends meet. Like many others, he struggled to find stable income. A window of hope changed his mindset when he joined a group of unemployed youth and received training from Kelem Ethiopia through its UYEEP (Urban Youth Employment and Environmental Protection) project.
“I never imagined recycling plastic bottles could be profitable,” says Tariku.
Bati, located along a major trade route, is known for its hot climate and high bottled water consumption. As a result, discarded plastic bottles were scattered everywhere, polluting the environment. Tariku recalls how plastic waste once overwhelmed the town and how he never considered it a source of income until the training opened his eyes. “I never imagined recycling plastic bottles could be profitable,” says Tariku. “Kelem Ethiopia introduced us to this idea.”
After receiving hands-on training in plastic waste management and recycling, Tariku and his team of 50 youths began collecting and compressing plastic bottles. “These bottles are no longer dirty waste to me—they’re a source of income,” he says.
Real Impact, Real Change
Thanks to the UYEEP project, over 360 unemployed youth in six towns across the Amhara region—Dessie, Bati, Woldiya, Kombolcha, Kemisse, and Haik—have been engaged in similar plastic recycling. The support provided included mindset-shifting training and foundational instruction in plastic waste management and recycling. To ease daily operations, these youth teams also received practical equipment: six plastic squeezing machines, six three-wheeled plastic collection vehicles, 100 dustbins, 1000 collection bags, and protective wear.
The Dessie youth enterprise recently made its second sale of shredded plastic, turning waste into income and inspiration while highlighting the expanding market potential of local recycling initiatives.
So far, in Bati, Dessie and Kemisse, a total of 10,200 kg of shredded plastic bottles have been sold to private recycling companies and the youths gained nearly 380,000 ETB.
Tariku and his team are now eagerly working to get sustainable earnings from the recycled materials. He proudly shares that not only the community but also even his own children are now collecting plastics after understanding the value of plastic waste.
“Now our town is clean and free from plastic waste,” Tariku says. “The community has started collecting and selling plastic bottles too. We’re proud to have inspired this change.”
Government Support and Community Engagement
According to local government sources, the town of Bati generates around 15 tons of waste daily, much of which contributes to visible pollution due to inadequate waste management systems. Ali, head of the Bati Environmental Protection Office, expressed full support for the Kelem Ethiopia initiative, emphasizing its practical benefits for both environmental health and youth employment.
Mulumebet Demeke, UYEEP Project Coordinator at Kelem Ethiopia, highlighted the broader goals of the program: “We are conducting awareness campaigns using.
community conversation and media aiming to reach over 6,000 community members, and we provided training for government waste management staff. Engaging more than 300 unemployed youth in high-migration areas like North and South Wollo has a significant impact on both job creation and environmental protection.” Says Mulumebet.
Looking Ahead
Despite challenges such as limited market linkage and rising fuel costs, Tariku and his team remain hopeful. Their long-term dream is to establish a plastic recycling factory in their town, Bati. For now, they celebrate the community’s growing involvement and the cleaner streets that reflect their hard work.
“This change is our reward,” Tariku says. “A clean town and a brighter future—we turned waste into opportunity.”
Thanks to the support from #BMZ (Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung), #TERRATECH Förderprojekte e.V., and #AktionDeutschlandHilft, Kelem Ethiopia remains committed to fostering sustainable job creation while promoting environmental protection. More youth should be encouraged to join, especially as neighboring towns also need such programs.
By strengthening and expanding these efforts, we can significantly contribute to cleaner, healthier cities and provide vital job opportunities in areas most affected by migration and unemployment. Cultivating a mindset focused on progress and a brighter future will benefit generations to come.
Author- Hassina Ousman
