About Arena Recycling
A Tanzanian startup tackling ocean pollution and housing challenges by converting plastic waste into durable construction products.
A Tanzanian startup tackling ocean pollution and housing challenges by converting plastic waste into durable construction products.
Arena Recycling Industry was founded in 2019 by Hellena Sailas, an environmental engineer with a passion for tackling Tanzania's dual challenges of plastic pollution and affordable housing.
What began as a simple beach cleanup initiative quickly evolved when Hellena discovered the shocking amount of plastic waste polluting Tanzania's beautiful coastlines. Recognizing both a problem and an opportunity, she began experimenting with ways to transform this waste into valuable building materials.
With initial support from local environmental groups and a small team of dedicated individuals, Arena Recycling established its first small-scale processing facility in Dar es Salaam. In the years since, we've grown to employ over 50 people, with a focus on providing opportunities for women and youth in the community.
Today, Arena Recycling is at the forefront of sustainable construction innovation in East Africa, turning environmental challenges into opportunities for positive change.
To create sustainable, inclusive solutions by transforming plastic waste into eco-friendly building materials while empowering women and youth.
A world where plastic waste is a valuable resource, communities are resilient, and construction is climate-conscious.
We are committed to protecting and restoring our natural environment, particularly our oceans and coastlines.
We continuously seek new and better ways to transform waste into valuable resources and improve our processes.
We value diversity and create opportunities for all, with a special focus on empowering women and youth in our communities.
We are committed to producing high-quality, durable products that meet safety standards while protecting our workers and customers.
Arena Recycling was founded in Dar es Salaam with a mission to combat plastic pollution and promote sustainable construction. The team began experimenting with plastic recycling and eco-brick development.
Launched our first pilot project in partnership with the U.S. Embassy Tanzania, constructing 5 sanitation facilities using eco-bricks in Temeke District, improving access to clean and safe sanitation for local communities.
Secured partnerships for construction projects with organizations including the International Secretariat for Water. Joined prestigious incubator and accelerator programs such as Ocean Hub Africa, scaling both our impact and innovation capacity.
Partnered with NORCE and the University of Dar es Salaam to launch the Clean Shores Great Lakes Project, collecting plastic waste along the shores of Africa's Great Lakes and mobilizing over 30,000 people in environmental action.
Expanded our production facility in Dar es Salaam with the support of UNDP, increasing production capacity and job creation, while reaching a milestone of over 520 tons of plastic waste repurposed.
Partnered with TotalEnergies to establish smart plastic collection centers at fuel stations, making waste drop-off more accessible for communities and enhancing circular economy practices.
Recognized globally for our innovation in sustainability and circular economy. Received international awards and were featured at high-level events including the UN Ocean Conference, highlighting our role in reducing ocean pollution and creating green jobs.
We're always looking for passionate, talented individuals who share our vision for a cleaner environment and sustainable future.
