Isatou Ceesay

Isatou Ceesay (born 1972) is a Gambian activist and social entrepreneur, popularly referred to as the Queen of Recycling. She initiated a recycling movement called One Plastic Bag in the Gambia. Through this movement, she educated women in The Gambia to recycle plastic waste into sellable products that earned them income.

"'Queen of Recycling’ Isatou Ceesay fights plastic pollution in The Gambia" (2023)

 * "'Queen of Recycling’ Isatou Ceesay fights plastic pollution in The Gambia", Lifegate Daily (30 March 2023)


 * I started seeing a lot of people indiscriminately dumping their garbage at the back of their houses and in the street. The problem was only getting worse and other than just looking ugly, the waste piles were also causing other issues in my community.


 * We plucked plastic bags from trash piles and took them home together with my four friends. We washed the bags, dried them, cut them into strips, and crocheted them into bags. Other people made fun of us but we never gave up, we just pressed on, knowing that we were doing it for a good cause.


 * My entrepreneurship spirit has since helped to empower many women through providing them with the means and support to generate an income, now they’re able to care for their families.