LocationsHow a Young Entrepreneur is Cleaning Salima and Creating Green Jobs
April 13, 2026
Organic fertilizer produced by APOWAMAS from recycled waste, turning garbage into a valuable resource for farmers and promoting sustainable agriculture.
At dawn in Msalura, Salima, before shops open and children walk to school, piles of waste already line some streets. Plastic bags clog drainage channels. Rotten food attracts flies. For many residents, this has long been a frustrating and familiar sight. But for 27-year-old Jeremiah Mwanza, waste is not just a problem. It is an opportunity to protect the environment, create jobs, and build a cleaner future.
“I could not ignore what I was seeing in my own community,” Jeremiah says. “Waste was everywhere, and I knew it was harming our health, our lake, and our environment.”
Jeremiah is the founder of Apocalypse Waste Management Solutions (APOWAMAS), a fully commercial waste management enterprise based in Salima that transforms municipal waste into organic fertiliser and paving blocks while creating green jobs and improving sanitation. His work is now reaching hundreds of households and businesses, offering a practical response to Malawi’s growing waste crisis.
A growing crisis in Malawi’s towns and cities
Across Malawi, waste management systems are under serious strain. Nearly all urban centres face shortages of waste collection services, bins, and proper disposal sites. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, about 72 per cent of waste in Malawi is dumped in rivers, open spaces, or burned, worsening pollution and public health risks.
A 2019 UNDP-funded study by Lilongwe Wildlife Trust showed that Lilongwe and Blantyre were producing about 988 tonnes of waste every day, yet only 28 per cent was properly disposed of. The remainder ends up in illegal dumping sites, water bodies, or is burned in the open air.
“When waste is not managed properly, it affects everything,” Jeremiah explains. “It pollutes water, land, and air, and it increases diseases in our communities.”
Collected waste awaiting sorting and recycling, highlighting the scale of the challenge and the opportunity to turn waste into value.
From internship to innovation
Jeremiah’s journey began in 2018, shortly after completing his studies in Natural Resources Management at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Technology (LUANAR). While working as an intern at Salima District Council, he was attached to the environmental department.
“Working at the council opened my eyes,” he recalls. “I saw how difficult it was to collect waste from markets and residential areas. Councils simply do not have enough resources to manage the growing volume of waste.”
Bins were few, enforcement of fines on polluters was weak, and waste piled up in markets and neighbourhoods. Rather than waiting for a solution, Jeremiah decided to become part of the solution.
Turning garbage into value
Today, APOWAMAS collects general and hazardous waste from households, hotels, lodges, offices, and restaurants across Salima, including areas near Lake Malawi. The waste is transported to a treatment site where it is carefully sorted.
Organic waste that decomposes quickly is separated from plastics and glass, which can take over a century to break down. Using the windrow composting method, the organic waste is processed into organic fertiliser, produced in both raw and granular forms. Plastics are recycled into interlocking paving blocks.
Organic fertiliser production has become a key revenue stream for APOWAMAS. The fertiliser is sold to smallholder farmers, gardeners, and agribusinesses, improving soil health and crop yields while offering an affordable, locally produced alternative to chemical fertilisers. This circular approach not only reduces waste but also supports sustainable agriculture and food security.
“What people see as garbage, we see as a resource,” Jeremiah says. “Recycling reduces the waste going to dumpsites and illegal dumping grounds. This prevents water, air, and land pollution.”
Composting also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing waste, contributing to climate change mitigation while supporting sustainable agriculture.
Jeremiah Mwanza (in black) and his team transport processed organic fertilizer, a product of recycled waste that is creating jobs, improving soils, and driving a circular economy in Salima.
Real impact on the ground
With support from the Growth Accelerator Entrepreneurship Challenge, co-funded by the German Development Cooperation through KfW Development Bank, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Lilongwe, and UNDP Malawi, APOWAMAS now processes more than 120 tonnes of waste every month and serves over 250 households in Salima.
The enterprise is also creating inclusive green jobs. Sixty per cent of its workforce are women, many of whom rely on this income to support their families.
“We are thrilled to be part of this life-changing programme,” Jeremiah says. “The support will boost business revenue generation, service delivery, and management of waste through recycling to increase organic fertiliser production.”
A waste collection truck supported through the UNDP Growth Accelerator Programme, helping expand efficient and reliable waste collection across Salima.
Scaling solutions through UNDP support
Through targeted support under UNDP’s Growth Accelerator Programme, APOWAMAS has been able to strengthen its operational capacity and expand its service reach. The support includes financial resources that enabled the company to procure a specialised waste collection truck and other essential equipment, which has significantly improved the enterprise’s ability to collect, transport, and manage waste efficiently across Salima.
The truck has eased one of the biggest challenges faced by small waste management enterprises, ensuring safer and more reliable waste collection from households, businesses, and institutions. This has allowed APOWAMAS to expand its coverage while maintaining high standards of environmental and public health protection.
“Our goal is simple,” Jeremiah explains. “We want to reach more people, improve sanitation and hygiene, and scale up organic fertiliser production from municipal solid waste.”
Workers at APOWAMAS sorting and processing waste, contributing to cleaner communities while creating inclusive green jobs.
A call to support community-driven solutions
As Malawi’s population grows and urbanisation accelerates, UNEP warns that the country’s waste management crisis will continue to worsen without urgent action. Community-led solutions like APOWAMAS show what is possible when innovation meets local commitment.
“Waste management cannot be left to councils alone,” Jeremiah says. “With the right support, young people and small businesses can make a big difference.”
Standing among neatly arranged compost piles that were once household waste, Jeremiah remains hopeful. His vision is not just about cleaning Salima. It is about proving that environmental protection, job creation, and economic growth can go hand in hand.
With continued investment, partnerships, and policy support, initiatives like APOWAMAS can help Malawi turn its waste challenge into an opportunity for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future.
Supporting such green enterprises today means protecting communities, creating jobs, and safeguarding the environment for generations to come.