Hellena co-founded Arena Recycling with the mission to improve access to affordable and eco-friendly building materials made from recyclable and non-recyclable plastic.
The organisation collects plastic waste from the beaches of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which is then sorted into density, mixed and melted with sand to produce eco-bricks, paving blocks and tiles. Arena Recycling also raises awareness on waste management and recycling practices in the community around marine areas through capacity building workshops. In addition, these workshops promote behavioural change by inviting participants to engage in waste management through collecting plastic waste and beach clean ups.
Hellena digitally attended the One Young World Summit Munich, 2021, with DSM-Firmenich. This helped her connect with young leaders across East Africa and find support in Ambassadors in the region working in the circular economy.
Arena Recycling has collected over 820 tonnes of plastic waste mitigating over 2,378 tonnes of carbon, improving fishing conditions for the coastal community in Dar es Salaam. 122 tonnes of this plastic waste was collected through community beach clean ups. Hellena's awareness and education campaigns on waste management and recycling practices have impacted more than 160,000 people.
