A quiet morning along the shores of Lake Victoria reveals a distressing scene. A local fisher inspects his net and finds it tangled with plastic debris. Once renowned for its clear, life-sustaining waters, the lake now struggles under the weight of discarded single-use bottles, carrier bags, and microplastics. This essential freshwater resource, powering livelihoods through fishing, transport, and water supply for countless Kenyan communities, is suffering the "tragedy of the Commons."

This past week, Eco-Loop Kenya, in partnership with the County Government of Kisumu [City of Kisumu], embarked on a city-wide market cleanup, bringing together dedicated volunteers, local authorities, and community members to restore cleanliness in Kisumu’s major markets. As we gathered piles of waste, a startling reality became evident: the majority of the collected waste was organic, yet it was all being indiscriminately discarded at dumpsites.