Stories
June 12, 2026 • 4 min read
Along Sierra Leone’s coastline, plastic pollution and inadequate waste management systems threatened livelihoods, public health, and fragile marine ecosystems. Beach cleaners and fish-selling communities often worked with limited equipment and faced ongoing sanitation challenges that affected their safety and income. With support from Allied Irish Bank (AIB), GOAL partnered with coastal communities to improve waste management practices and strengthen livelihood opportunities.
Along Sierra Leone’s coastline, communities depend on healthy beaches and marine ecosystems for tourism, fishing, and daily livelihoods. Areas such as Lumley Beach, Aberdeen, and Wan Pole are vibrant economic hubs where beach cleaners, fish traders, and residents play a vital role in sustaining both the local economy and the environment.
Recognizing the growing need for sustainable waste management and income-generating opportunities: GOAL, with support from Allied Irish Bank (AIB), partnered with coastal communities to strengthen environmental stewardship while creating pathways toward greater economic resilience. The initiative brought together beach cleaning groups, fish sellers, recycling companies, and local stakeholders to address environmental challenges through community-led action.
When Waste Became a Growing Threat
For years, waste management along Sierra Leone’s coastline was constrained by limited resources, inadequate systems, and a lack of protective equipment. Plastic waste accumulated along beaches, threatening marine biodiversity, fishing activities, tourism, public health, and the livelihoods that depend on a healthy coastline.
Beach cleaners carried out demanding work with little protection from hazardous materials. For many, the effort required to keep beaches clean was not matched by the resources needed to do the work safely and effectively.
Mamusu Kamara, a Tourist Board worker and mother of five, remembers those challenges clearly. “Previously, we did not have tools like gloves. We used our bare hands to gather waste, and most times it was harmful to us.”
At Wan Pole, fish sellers faced similar challenges. The absence of reliable waste transportation meant fish waste often accumulated while communities waited for collection services, creating sanitation concerns for traders and customers alike.
Creating Pathways for Change
GOAL implemented a waste management and livelihood initiative that combined environmental protection with income-generating opportunities for coastal communities and beach cleaning groups received various protective equipment that made their work safer and more efficient.
For Mamusu, the change was immediate. “GOAL supported us with gloves, shovels, wheelbarrows, bags, and rakes. This added to the tools we already had and made our work safer and easier.”
However, the project extended beyond equipment provision. Participants received training on waste sorting, environmental protection, budgeting, savings, and responsible financial management. GOAL also established partnerships with private recycling companies, creating a structured market for recyclable materials and transforming plastic waste into an economic resource.
What was once discarded as rubbish could now be sorted, collected, and sold. “The idea of selling plastics to recyclers has helped us make extra money compared to what we were only paid by the Tourist Board,” says Mamusu. “We now sell the plastic and make money. We use this money to take care of our families, especially our children who go to school.”
According to the beach cleaning groups, a full bag of collected plastic waste sells for approximately Le 80 (€3.30), and some groups are able to sell up to 50 bags per week, generating around Le 4,000 (€164) in additional weekly income.
The initiative also supported fish-selling communities at Wan Pole. Women’s groups received cleaning equipment and a tricycle to transport waste to designated disposal sites, addressing a long-standing sanitation challenge.
Fatmata Bah, Chairlady of the Wan Pole Fish Women Association, explains: “We were even given a tricycle to transport the waste from our workplace to the dumpsite, which used to be a challenge for us.”
The tricycle soon became more than a waste-management solution. “We even use it to make extra money because other people along the beach pay for their waste to be taken. We add the extra money to our village savings and loan box, which is recorded separately and shared after the financial cycle.”
The project has also encouraged positive behavioral change among young people supporting activities at the fish market. “The boys helping us now take their time to separate plastic waste from other waste because they sell it and make money,” says Fatmata.
From Pollution to Possibility
The results of the initiative are visible across the coastline. Communities are managing waste more effectively, beaches are cleaner, and coastal ecosystems are receiving greater protection. Plastic waste that once polluted the shoreline is now generating income, supporting education costs, strengthening savings groups, and creating opportunities for families to build more resilient futures.
For Mamusu, the benefits extend beyond income. “I am happy seeing the beach clean. The skills we gained were valuable.”
For Aiah Ederson Bobor, a Beach Combat Supervisor, the project has elevated the value of work that was often overlooked. “As a supervisor, I appreciate GOAL for the training and support. They placed value on what we do, especially selling plastic waste. They created a market for us.”
The additional income has become particularly important during periods of financial uncertainty. “I am happy to see our team making extra money rather than depending solely on what the Tourist Board pays. This fills so many gaps for families.”
To date, the initiative has directly benefited 30 participants, while hundreds more have benefited indirectly through cleaner beaches, improved sanitation, safer communities, and increased environmental awareness. More than 100 volunteers participated in major clean-up campaigns, removing over 1.2 tons of waste during World Environment Day activities. Five waste management and beach cleaning groups have also been established and trained to sustain environmental protection efforts beyond the life of the project.
What was once considered worthless waste is now creating value for families, strengthening community savings mechanisms, supporting environmental stewardship, and helping build long-term resilience.
