Where Waste Becomes Wealth: Blantyre’s Entrepreneurial Revolution
Unlocking Value from Organic Waste
At the Mbayani Recycling Centre in Blantyre, waste is no longer just waste, it’s business. A group of local waste entrepreneurs has unlocked the power of value addition: compost that sells for MK10,000 per 50kg bag can earn up to MK80,000 when processed into organic fertiliser pellets of the same weight.
This shift followed targeted training that helped the group understand the economics of value addition. Armed with new skills and confidence, the entrepreneurs are transforming organic waste into a reliable source of income and changing how waste is perceived in their community. As Jassa Seville (48), the group’s secretary, summed it up: “The pellets are a game changer.”
The centre is supported by the Centre for Community Organisation and Development (CCODE) through the GIZ Women Employment for the Green Transformation (WE4D) Project. With this support, the group has expanded to 67 composters, more than 70% of them women. They collect organic waste from Mbayani Market and surrounding neighbourhoods, converting it into compost and now into high-value organic fertiliser pellets.
Highlighting the impact of this collaboration, Mazgo Khonje the programme manager of the WE4D project at CCODE remarked: “Empowering grassroots entrepreneurs specially women with targeted skills and proper equipment not only fosters economic independence but also drives the sustainable green transformation that local communities urgently need.”
Strategic Support and Improved Safety
This progress builds on earlier support from DESWOS , which financed the initial training and the construction of the composting centre.
The WE4D project has taken the work further by improving both productivity and safety. The group has received essential equipment: wheelbarrows, gloves, forks, gumboots, and shovels replacing a time when they worked without protective gear. One woman noted that they can now handle waste comfortably and safely.
waste entrepreneurs receiving safety equipments
Precision and Income Diversification
A weighing scale has also transformed the business. According to group leader Roy Mlauzi, it has eliminated guesswork and losses:
“Before, we could only estimate and sometimes sell more for less. Now we can sell compost in any quantity and know exactly what we’re earning.”
The scale also enables the group to weigh and bundle plastics for sale in town, providing regular income while compost is being processed.
Future Expansion and Supply Chain Growth
Looking ahead, the WE4D project will support branding, packaging, and marketing of the organic fertiliser in Blantyre and beyond. The group also plans to register as a cooperative with WE4D support, an important step that will give their enterprise greater recognition, stronger bargaining power, and better access to institutional buyers and markets.
The entrepreneurs are equally focused on strengthening supply chains. They aim to enter into agreements with institutions that generate organic waste such as abattoirs to ensure easier collection and improve the quality and consistency of their products.
A representative from a local abattoir expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming supply partnership, stating: “Partnering with the Mbayani recyclers allows us to manage our organic waste sustainably while contributing directly to the production of high-grade organic fertiliser. It’s a win-win for institutional waste management and community growth.”
Peer Learning and Regional Impact
The equipment handover also created space for peer learning, with women waste entrepreneurs from Lilongwe inviting their Blantyre counterparts to visit and share skills so they can start producing organic fertiliser pellets and grow their incomes. It’s a clear sign that knowledge and opportunity is spreading.
From safer working conditions and stronger organisation to higher incomes and new markets, the Mbayani Recycling Centre shows how targeted support and entrepreneurship can turn everyday urban challenges into sustainable livelihoods and how waste is pure gold.
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