Plastic Waste Transforms a Malagasy School

The Fitroafana Public Primary School, located in Talatamaty, has become the first public school in Madagascar fully equipped with desks and benches made from recycled plastic.

The official handover of the furniture took place on May 8, 2026, thanks to a collaboration between the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, the Ministry of National Education, UNICEF, E-toile SA – ALSICO Group, and Andao Company.

“This project demonstrates that it is possible to transform waste into useful resources for education,” according to the authorities. In three years, approximately 4,000 kilograms of plastic waste were collected and recycled to manufacture sturdy and durable school furniture. This waste came primarily from used buckets, jerrycans, basins, and even out-of-service solar lamps.

Today, the school welcomes 267 students, taught by six teachers and a principal. Thanks to this project, the classrooms now have new and suitable equipment. The new furniture increases the school’s capacity and improves the children’s learning conditions.

The project goes beyond simply donating desks and benches. Since 2024, the students have been actively participating in collecting plastic waste from their homes. Every Monday, the waste is collected before being sent to recycling centers. “This initiative allows children to learn the importance of cleanliness and environmental protection from a very young age,” explains Manjakavelo Mariam Lea, the school’s director.

The example of the Fitroafana Primary School could thus inspire other schools in Madagascar.