1. Trash to Treasure: Collecting Trash for Profit to
Reduce Vector Breeding Sites in Kwale County, Kenya
Francis Mutuku, Desiree LaBeaud, Amy Krystosik, Jenna Forsyth, Scholastica Ratanya
Figure 1: Conceptual Framework
Background
Mosquito-borne viral infections are increasingly common causes of severe febrile disease
Three common mosquito-borne viral infections, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus, are spread by the same mosquito vector (Aedes aegypti), which breeds in containers, often trash or unused containers, within human settlements
Lack of adequate solid waste management in developing countries poses many risks in addition to providing habitats for mosquito breeding
Scoping Stage
Conduct interviews with stakeholders to understand:
Deficiencies in the existing waste collection system
Market opportunities
Interest from potential partners
Community mobilization through Community Health Volunteers and NGO (SCOPE)
Pilot Stage
Enroll 10 groups to 6-month social entrepreneur incubator:
Monthly mentorship, training, and support
Business plan development
Network of local entrepreneurs and engineers
Monthly evaluations of social entrepreneurs:
Communicating challenges
Volumes of trash collected
Expense and revenue reports
Implementation
Community-based vector control programs are rarely sustainable as they rely on external funding
Individuals may not be incentivized to improve health if basic needs are not met due to poverty
High rates of unemployment, especially among young adults
We propose to divert waste as an unconventional vector control initiative with numerous positive externalities for health, the environment and local communities
Expected results are a self-sustaining entrepreneurial business to collect trash for profit will reduce vector breeding sites and thus vector populations
Rationale
Entomology surveillance
Community spatial video geonarrative maps to measure trash abundance and location
Community acceptability of the social entrepreneurship incubator to create income and reduce poverty
Sustainability & profitability of ‘Trash to Treasure’ businesses
Outcome Measures
Create jobs for community members and entrepreneurs
Reduce vector abundance and associated diseases
Reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases from trash burning and improve planetary and respiratory health
Assist government in achieving public health and sanitation goals outlined in the Kenyan Strategy for Community Health
Impact
Assess the potential for community-based recycling that engages aspiring entrepreneurs to repurpose trash for profit in Kwale County, Kenya
Identify target communities & volumes of waste 
Scope solid waste and recycling market opportunities
Identify how best to mobilize community members to collect trash and link them with entrepreneurs
Pilot test business incubator program
Assess effect on mosquito and trash abundance and community profit
Objectives
Collaborators

2. Reduce CHIKV/DENV transmission rates associated with vector abundance
Reduce human vector contact rates
Reduce Vector Breeding Sites
Reduce vector abundance
1. Collect Trash
Mentor top Entrepreneurs
4. Reinvest profits
Reach business goals
Increase profitability
2. Give it purpose
Baraza: call for applications
Top 30
Business training
Reduce CHIKV/DENV transmission rates associated with poverty
3. Sell
Decrease poverty
Create economic incentive