How can you use data to guide your project?
Good data helps you make better decisions, but it’s not always easy to find or use. Start by checking what already exists. Your national environmental authority might have figures on daily waste generation and the types of waste produced. This can help you plan infrastructure, estimate volumes, and think ahead about scaling up. Just be cautious: national data often reflects big cities or industrial areas and might not match your local reality. If you can, look for local data, or factor in a margin of error.
If you can’t find relevant data, consider collecting your own. Surveys, both quantitative and qualitative, can help you understand waste flows, behaviours, and needs. Involve the community using citizen science methods where possible, and make sure you follow proper methodologies so your data holds weight.
Set up a system for ongoing data collection. Don’t just gather data once – keep tracking it over time. Break it down by gender, age, or area if relevant. This helps spot patterns and adjust your approach as needed.
Here are some useful data points to consider:
- Technical research – Volume, density, and types of waste (including microplastics and fibres) in dumpsites or sensitive areas like wetlands and rivers.
- Technical implementation – Waste collected during your recovery activities, changes in how much waste is reaching ecosystems, investment in the waste value chain.
- Social impact – How many people you’ve reached through your work, effects on biodiversity, climate and livelihoods, shifts in behaviour or awareness, and investments in community projects.
The better your data, the better your decisions – and the easier it is to show impact to your partners, funders and community.
For guidance on data collection and management see the Tracking Impact section of the Flipflopi Toolkit.
