Community-based Waste Management Model (COBWAMM) is a youth-led social enterprise inspired by the Big Ship organization. Its mission is “To provide a reliable, affordable and efficient waste management service and derive value from resource-rich waste products in order to promote healthy communities and protect natural resources.”
COBWAMM has two strategies:
- Resource Collection (RECO) – This is a franchise model that simplifies solid waste management operations for the urban poor, placing special emphasis on helping women and young people;
- Material Recovery Facility (MAREFA) – This is a model for deriving value from resource-rich waste in order to improve livelihoods.
With a view to increasing the rate of waste collection, particularly in low-income and densely populated neighbourhoods, efforts are taken to sort and generate revenue from materials at source.