Leadership

Local leadership plays a critical role in shaping community behaviour. When respected figures take visible steps to support plastic collection or promote better waste practices, it helps others feel more confident – and more motivated – to join in.

Start by identifying people who are well known and well trusted in your community.

These could be:

• Chiefs or village elders
• Religious leaders
• Local government officers
• Teachers or headteachers
• Popular shopkeepers or business owners
• Local youth or women’s group leaders

Once identified, involve them early in your activities. Ask if their home, school or office could be one of the first places to receive a plastic waste collection service. Invite them to take part in a clean-up or attend a community awareness event. These small actions help send a powerful message: this work matters.

Take photos and short video clips, and – with their permission – share their quotes or reflections through social media, posters, WhatsApp groups or community forums. When people see familiar faces getting involved, it builds trust and encourages participation.

You can also support local officials to lead by example. For instance, you might suggest that a councillor or public health officer speaks at an event, or that a school headteacher writes a letter to parents encouraging them to separate their waste.