Traders finally put rubbish bins where everyone said they were needed

1 min ReadJune 2026

Amina Hassan

Eastleigh, Nairobi

The problem nobody owned

Traders had complained for months about rubbish collecting around one section of the market, especially plastic bags and food waste dropped during busy trading hours.

What people actually did

Six traders agreed to stop discussing the problem and test a simple idea. They repurposed three large containers, labelled them for rubbish, and placed them beside the busiest points. Two traders volunteered to empty them at the agreed collection point each evening.

What changed

The immediate trading area stayed noticeably cleaner during the first week, and neighbouring traders asked for another container closer to their stalls.

What they'd tell the next person

Test the smallest version of the idea first. If people use it, you know there is something worth building on.

About this challenge

This action was submitted in Eastleigh, Nairobi as part of the Bring One Community Idea to Life challenge.

Three market vendors learned to use mobile money safely

By the end of the week, all three women could confirm payments and check their balances without asking another trader for help. One of them also showed her sister what she had learned.