Community Impact

🌱 Turning Waste into Opportunity in Blantyre

In Ndirande, Blantyre, waste has long been one of the most visible challenges facing high-density communities. Piles of organic waste from households and markets often end up in open dumping sites, blocking drainage systems, attracting disease vectors, and degrading the local environment.

In 2025, Coimpac (Community Impact) continued working with communities to change this story.
From January to December 2025 partnered with women, and local youth groups across local markets, Makata Ward, Gamulani Ward, and Matope to strengthen organic waste collection and composting systems. Through coordinated community participation, large volumes of waste were redirected away from open dumping and into productive use.

Over the course of the year, 339 metric tons of organic waste were collected and processed into compost. This waste, which would otherwise have polluted communities and waterways, is now contributing to soil restoration and more sustainable food production. This achievement represents a major step toward building a local circular economy, where waste becomes a valuable input rather than an environmental burden.

👩🏽‍🌾👨🏽‍🔧Environmental action also became a pathway to livelihoods. Through waste collection, compost processing, logistics, and community outreach, Coimpac supported the creation of 41 direct and indirect jobs. 18 women gained income opportunities and skills. 23 youth were engaged in green employment.
These roles not only generated income, but also strengthened local ownership of environmental solutions and opened pathways into the green economy.

What makes Coimpac’s model effective is its community-first approach. By working directly in neighbourhoods and markets, the initiative improved waste separation, increased participation, and built local accountability for cleaner surroundings.
The results from 2025 demonstrate that community-based enterprises can deliver measurable environmental and social impact when given the tools and partnerships they need.

🤝 As Coimpac looks to the future, the focus is on scaling up operations, expanding to new communities, and increasing compost production. This next phase presents meaningful opportunities for donors and corporate partners to support climate action, green job creation, and inclusive local development.
With the right partnerships, Coimpac aims to deepen its contribution to cleaner cities, healthier soils, and more resilient livelihoods across Blantyre and beyond.

When we reduce waste, we save food, protect the environment, and strengthen Malawi’s food security

At our Waste Treatment Center, we witness how much food especially potatoes, tomatoes, and vegetables is lost before it reaches the table. These losses often happen silently, during harvesting, transport, and storage.

♻️ While recycling and composting help recover value from waste, they are the last options. The real solution begins with reducing waste from the start — at farms, homes, and markets.

Together, we can make a difference:

Store crops properly in dry, ventilated spaces.

Sort and use slightly damaged produce instead of discarding it.

Support small processors who turn surplus crops into new products.

Plan harvest and sales to match market demand.

When we started our reforestation campaign in Ndirande Forest Reserve back in 2022/23, we knew that planting trees alone wasn’t enough. What truly makes the difference is what goes into the soil.

By enriching every hole with Chonde Compost, our young trees have received the nutrients they need to survive, grow stronger, and withstand harsh conditions 🌿. Today, we are proud to see healthier seedlings standing tall—proof that compost is the hidden hero of reforestation.

Now we invite youth, women, families, and friends—to join us wherever you are in planting trees, using compost, and restoring our environment.

Together, we can green our communities and protect our future