Webinar: Water & (Plastic) Waste

As part of the Climate Action Resources Network -Asia Pacific (CARN-AP) Webinar Series: “Advancing Climate Action, Community Resilience & Knowledge Collaboration in Asia Pacific”, the Blue Community Network and the Blue Community PRISM from India present:

Webinar: Water & (Plastic) Waste

Presentations:

Madhukar Swayambhu: The Plastic Waste Menace and its Impact on Waterbodies & Solutions
Alpha Christopher Ntayomba: Protecting Tanzania’s Waters – Tackling Plastic Waste and Strengthening Water Governance in Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika
Roland Brunner: Microplastics in Switzerland – and beyond. From visible waste to invisible microplastics

Date/Time: 20 November 2026, 14:30 UTC

Register here to receive the Zoom-link for the webinar

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Details on the presentations and the panelists:

Madhukar Swayambhu: The Plastic Waste Menace and its Impact on Waterbodies & Solutions
Dr. Madhukar Swayambhu shall make a presentation that would cover amount of plastic waste generated each day across the globe, tentatively how much of it lands into the Waterbodies, the harm they do to the aquatic and avian life as well as overall biodiversity loss. How changing the human behavioral pattern can help, doing small doable things, which are just a matter of habits. And finally, how collection, segregation and processing technologies can help resolving the issue. He’ll also give example of natural decomposition of plastic through metabolism of the microbes found in nature which are today known to break down plastics completely into organic matter or biomass, as the power of nature beyond human knowledge, efforts and endeavours.
Madhukar Swayambhu is Head Research of the Blue Community Vaidic Srijan LLP in India. He is an entrepreneur, a startup mentor, a TEDx speaker (since 2020, 2026), Water Hero awardee by Jal Shakti Mantralaya (2019) – Government of Bharat (India), Member of Committee of Experts on EbA at The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Recognized as Global Top 2nd Author on Water by SWM -Spain (2021), Eco Warrior awardee in Healing Lights Awards 2026, a certified professional from IUCN Academy, PEDRR and UNEP, NCONF Certified master trainer on Natural Farming, well published within Bharat & globally on subjects like Water, Ecology, Forestry & Environmental Restoration, Sustainability in various magazines & Journals. He can be reached through his LinkedIn. Madhukar Swayambhu also serves as secretary of the Blue Community South Asia Coordination Committee and is a member of the global Blue Community Council.
Alpha Christopher Ntayomba: Protecting Tanzania’s Waters – Tackling Plastic Waste and Strengthening Water Governance in Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika
This presentation will explore the growing challenge of plastic waste and other forms of pollution affecting Tanzania’s rivers, lakes and surrounding communities, with particular attention to Lake Victoria in Mwanza Region and Lake Tanganyika in Kigoma Region.
It will examine how plastic waste moves from households, markets, urban areas, fisheries and other economic activities into rivers and ultimately into the lakes, affecting water quality, aquatic ecosystems, fisheries, public health and community livelihoods.
The presentation will also highlight practical solutions, including plastic reduction and recycling, circular-economy approaches, improved waste management, community-based water monitoring, environmental education and stronger enforcement of pollution-control measures.
Alpha Christopher Ntayomba is the Executive Director of Blue Community Population and Development Initiative (PDI), a Tanzanian national NGO advancing WASH, environmental protection, climate resilience, and community empowerment. He has over 15 years of experience in water governance, environmental conservation, responsible natural resource management, and social accountability.
His work focuses on strengthening community participation in addressing water insecurity, pollution, environmental degradation, and climate change, with particular attention to women and youth. Through PDI, he has supported community-based water monitoring, water integrity initiatives, environmental education, and plastic pollution interventions.
PDI has also conducted Plastic Pollution Brand Audits and community awareness events in Kigoma Region, supported by Break Free From Plastic, of which PDI is a member. Alpha holds a BSc in Forestry from Sokoine University of Agriculture and promotes inclusive, accountable, and sustainable environmental governance across Tanzania.
Roland Brunner: Microplastics in Switzerland – and beyond. From visible waste to invisible microplastics
This presentation draws on the work of the Swiss Blue Community Eawag – Swiss Federal Aquatic Research Institute. What happens to plastic in water? Where does plastic pollution come from? Wastewater: Part of the problem, but also part of the solution? What about our drinking water? Plastic pollution is an ecosystem issue! Should we simply remove plastic at the end? From plastic pollution to water responsibility. The Blue Community perspective: Water for Life, Not for Plastic Pollution!
Roland Brunner studied history and political science, worked for many years as journalist and in international cooperation (education, media development), and was active politically in the peace movement. 2013-2023, he was a campaigner and organizer with the trade union for public service employees VPOD in Zurich, Switzerland. In this function he also did a successful referendum campaign against a new water law that would allow privatization of services. He serves as the coordinator for the Blue Community Network, and serves as the responsible content editor for this website and the social media.