The team is collaborating with local officials and community organizations to discover innovative solutions for the environmental issues faced by the new country, by reusing one plastic bottle at a time.
There is an adequate supply available.
According to Ms. Gazdar, during a rainy weekend in Juba, approximately 25,000 kg (55,000 lbs) of plastic waste mixed with silt flows into the drains and ends up in the Tomping camp. She is referring to one of the two UN bases in the capital city of Juba, where nearly 18,000 peacekeepers reside.
“Ultimately, the plastic garbage exits the various drains and ends up in the Nile. This once pristine and majestic river is now becoming increasingly polluted with each passing day after rainfall. Therefore, efforts are being made to implement mechanisms that can intercept the waste before it reaches the Nile.”
Dealing with unexpected changes in weather conditions
After gaining independence in 2011 through a significant vote, South Sudan has encountered numerous political, economic, and ecological obstacles. Despite its abundant biodiversity, thriving rivers, and abundant natural resources, it is ranked as one of the top five nations most susceptible to climate change by the UN Environment Programme.
In the past few years, a destructive pattern of floods and droughts has caused significant disruptions to farming, worsened food shortages, and impacted around one million individuals each year. Higher than normal levels of precipitation have caused the rivers and tributaries to overflow, resulting in the submersion of vast areas of land, including residential areas, crops, and educational institutions.
The instability in politics and economy has negatively affected the progress of essential public services like waste disposal and recycling. This has led to an accumulation of waste in the nation’s water sources and wetlands, ultimately polluting the Nile River that is shared with 11 other African nations by South Sudan.
More than 200 million individuals depend on the Nile River for their means of living. However, inadequate waste disposal can result in the release of chemicals and plastic, posing a risk to the environment, people’s well-being, and financial stability.
SDG 12
Reworded: Goal 12 of the Sustainable Development Goals is focused on promoting sustainable production and consumption practices.
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Significantly decrease the amount of waste produced by implementing measures to prevent, reduce, recycle, and reuse.
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Attain long-term conservation and effective utilization of Earth’s resources.
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Reduce the amount of food wasted per person globally at the retail and consumer stages, and promote the adoption of environmentally friendly practices by businesses.
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Assist developing nations in enhancing their scientific and technological capabilities to transition towards more environmentally-friendly patterns of consumption and production.
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Create and enforce regulations that encourage eco-friendly tourism practices to stimulate economic growth and preserve indigenous traditions.
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Reworded: Eliminate ineffective subsidies for fossil fuels that promote excessive consumption.
Each year, an estimated 4.8 to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic waste is discarded into the Earth’s oceans.
“Be innovative, utilize your resources, and find ways to solve problems.”
Ms. Gazdar and her colleagues collaborate with community members, including local authorities and NGOs like the Green Youth Empowerment, who are motivated to address South Sudan’s environmental issues through innovative methods.
“In the most challenging circumstances, your creativity remains a valuable tool. Therefore, be innovative and resourceful, utilizing what you have to find solutions,” stated Ms. Gazdar. She, alongside two young South Sudanese individuals, Alice Sabuni and Andrew Ugalla, have collaborated to construct necessary structures using one-gallon plastic bottles as building blocks.
According to Ms. Gazdar, Mr. Ugalla, an educator, instructs his students to bring in two plastic bottles per day instead of paying fees. This allows them to participate in the construction project and teaches them the importance of recycling and being resourceful.
A dwelling in South Sudan constructed using bricks made from plastic bottles.
Repurposing plastic bottles
Ms. Gazdar explained that due to the lack of recycling facilities in South Sudan, they are repurposing plastic bottles by filling them with soil and using them in construction projects.
Plastics are highly durable and resistant to deterioration, making them ideal for creating strong bricks.
The non-governmental organizations have created an impressive array of buildings. They have repurposed plastic bottles to construct schools, restrooms, homes, water tanks, and community centers.
There is an abundance of plastic waste available for repurposing. During the annual World Environment Day on June 5th, UNMISS hosted a clean-up event where peacekeepers collected and removed 1,500 bags of garbage.
Taking inspiration from umuganda, a monthly community clean-up campaign in Rwanda that translates to “coming together in common purpose” in Kinyarwanda, UNMISS is aiming to host similar events to unite individuals in the effort to care for their surroundings.
In June 2023, climate scientist Shazneen Cyrus Gazdar (located in the center) and UN peacekeepers joined together to take part in a clean-up activity in Juba, South Sudan, to commemorate World Environment Day.
Decreasing pollution, generating employment opportunities
Using plastic again can also contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change. Plastic has a negative impact on the environment and all living beings on Earth throughout its entire lifespan. The production of plastic is largely dependent on fossil fuels and can result in approximately two billion metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year, according to UNEP.
Reducing the use of single-use plastics through changes in production and consumption practices can also contribute to addressing the issue of climate change. Plastics have a negative impact on the environment and the planet throughout their entire life cycle, as they are primarily made from fossil fuels and could potentially result in 2.1 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions annually by 2040, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.
According to Ms. Gazdar, these buildings use 33% less cement and no traditional bricks, resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, these buildings are able to withstand severe tropical storms and minor earthquakes.
Plastic brick buildings
Currently, in Juba, there are a plethora of structures made from plastic bricks. These buildings not only offer shelter and security, but also create job opportunities for women and youth within the community.
Constructing necessary buildings in South Sudan using plastic blocks.
Ms. Gazdar’s group intends to construct waste collection sites in order to assist with the development of Juba’s City Waste Management Plant. Additionally, they plan to establish a Women’s Centre for Excellence for the South Sudan Border Security Police using the Mission’s Quick Impact Project method.
The facility will support female law enforcement officers by offering a secure and comfortable work environment. At present, there are no restrooms or designated areas for them to change into their official attire.
She stated that everyone is collaborating to create the center. The female police officers have provided us with a list of desired facilities such as offices, changing rooms, storage areas, restrooms, and training rooms. Our partners, the NGOs, will primarily build the center using recycled plastic bottles and energy-efficient light bulbs.
Find out more about how the world can end plastic pollution here.
Discover additional information about the United Nations’ Peacekeeping Missions on this page.
Pro tip: Energy-saving light bulbs with zero energy consumption.
Plastic bottles can also make great light bulbs for energy efficient buildings. Here’s a hack from Shazneen Cyrus Gazdar of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). All you need is plastic bottles, water and chlorine.
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Step 1: Let’s utilize our resources. Take a 1.5 liter plastic bottle [equivalent to approximately 50 fl oz] and fill it with water, then add one or two tablespoons of bleach to the water.
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Step 2: Securely close the bottle and place it in locations where traditional light bulbs are typically used.
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Step 3: Ensure that the upper portion of the bottle is exposed in the structure to allow sunlight to be captured through refraction. Each bottle will illuminate an area of approximately one and a half meters around it.
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