Douala: Women living with disabilities giving new life to plastics.

In a city where choking gutters, congested drains, and improvised dumpsites have become a familiar part of the urban landscape amid the mounting environmental burden, a group of women is rewriting the narrative of plastic waste management.

Under the banner of the Association des Filles et Femmes Handicapées pour l’Intégration Totale au Développement, AFFHALID, based in the Mboppi neighbourhood, and led by its president, Marie Louise Noubissi, the women are giving discarded plastic a second life. 

Armed with gloves, the women sift through piles of waste, carefully selecting plastic packaging. To passers-by, it may appear to be scavenging, but for them, it is the first stage of a well-organised production process.

Second life begins in the dump

For these women, every recovered plastic bag represents an opportunity. “We collect used plastic bags from homes and trash bins, wash them, iron them, make spools and then weave them,” explains Marie Louise Noubissi.

Seated in her wheelchair, she oversees activities while embodying the association’s mission of transforming vulnerability into capability. According to her, every stage of the process is worthwhile because of the final result.

The transformation takes place at the association’s headquarters. Once collected, the plastic is thoroughly washed with water, detergent and disinfectant before being dried in the sun. It then undergoes an unexpected stage: ironing.

The ironing process which is done with hands, permits the women to soften and straighten the material, making it easier to cut into strips and roll into thread-like spools. 

The spools become the foundation for weaving, a meticulous craft requiring patience, precision and creativity.

From what was once waste, emerges handbags, baskets, hats, hand fans, decorative items and fashion accessories. Each piece, these ladies say is unique and tells a story of reinvention.

Crafting identity through innovation

Inside the workshop, concentration fills the air. Hands move steadily as strands of black, blue and multicoloured plastic are woven into intricate designs.

Among the artisans is Emilie Mpeleng, who has been involved in the initiative for several years.

“In the morning, I attend training. When I return around 2p.m., I collect plastic bags before coming to the workshop,” she says, while continuing her work.

In her hands, a hat gradually takes shape from what was once discarded packaging. For Emilie and many others, the activity is more than a craft. It provides income, self-expression and a pathway to independence.

The products are sold locally and displayed during exhibitions. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, they contribute to reducing plastic waste in the city.

Another member, Ngek Honorine Ghendeh, an Internally Displaced Person, IDP, from the North West Region, joined the group four years ago with little knowledge of recycling techniques. Today, Ngek  says she produces key holders, bags and other accessories.

“We can create many things from plastic. We collect it, wash it, cut it and transform it into useful items,” she explains.

Although Ngek says the income remains modest as she continues learning, the IDP is proud of the skills she has acquired.

“I’m very happy because I never imagined plastic waste could be turned into products like these,” she adds.

Skill born from international solidarity

According to the association’s president, the initiative dates back to early 2010 when AFFHALID partnered with a French organisation. 

At the time, waste recycling was still relatively uncommon in Douala despite the growing accumulation of plastic waste. Two women from the association were selected for training abroad, an experience that would reshape the organisation’s future.

“It was like magic,” recalls Marie Louise Noubissi. “Something that had been thrown away could be cleaned and transformed into something useful again”.

Upon their return, the trainees shared their knowledge with other members, gradually building a collective expertise that has empowered dozens of women.

Today, recycling has become one of AFFHALID’s flagship activities, combining creativity with environmental responsibility. The women are not simply beneficiaries of assistance. 

They actively contribute to environmental protection and the local economy while challenging stereotypes about disability. 

Through their work, they demonstrate that disability is not inability but can instead inspire innovation and transformation.

For Noubissi, every woven handbag or key holder carries a message. It shows that solutions to complex urban challenges can emerge from unexpected places.

Between opportunity and risk

Despite the initiative’s success, experts caution that it is not without challenges. Jocelyne Henri-Tchonang, a specialist in circular economy and sustainable finance, points to the health risks associated with handling waste materials.

“The economic benefits are immediate, but they do not eliminate the health risks. In its current form, this is not a fully sustainable solution for either the women or waste management,” she says.

According to her, exposure to contaminated plastic collected from unsanitary environments can pose serious health concerns. Without adequate protective infrastructure and equipment, the women remain vulnerable.

She recommends access to cleaner plastic sources and simple processing machinery to reduce direct contact with waste, measures that could improve both safety and productivity.

Environmental stakes beyond the workshop

Emmanuel Kevin Atangana, a greenhouse gas monitoring expert at the National Observatory on Climate Change, NOCC, says improperly managed plastic waste has broader environmental consequences.

When plastic accumulates in landfills and natural environments, it can contribute indirectly to greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, which accelerates global warming. 

By recovering and reusing plastic waste, the women help divert it from the environment and contribute, even on a small scale, to climate change mitigation.

Their work reflects the principles of the circular economy by extending the lifespan of materials and reducing environmental impact.

However, experts agree that expanding such efforts will require stronger institutional support and policy backing.

Toward a sustainable future

Marie Louise Noubissi believes AFFHALID demonstrates how grassroots innovation can address multiple challenges at once, including pollution, unemployment and social exclusion.

She says the association remains committed to its mission but acknowledges that its long-term sustainability will depend on support from public authorities, private sector actors and development partners. 

Improved working conditions, better access to raw materials and expanded markets could significantly increase the initiative’s impact.

Redefining disability and social inclusion

Beyond its environmental and economic contributions, the initiative carries a powerful social message. In a society where people living with disabilities often face marginalization, these women are asserting their place through resilience, creativity and innovation.

By transforming waste into opportunity, they are not only protecting the environment but also redefining perceptions of disability and proving that inclusion can be a driver of sustainable development.

This article was produced as part of the Afri’kibaaru 2 project 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3814 of Thursday June 11, 2026