Isatou Ceesay

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

Early years and education Ceesay grew up on a farm in the small village of N’jau in Gambia. Following her father's death and due to social and economic constraints affecting women at the time, she was unable to complete a formal education and left school for financial reasons. She subsequently began making and selling toys from scraps of clothing and wood, which were sold locally.

Using her earnings and a small inheritance, Ceesay enrolled at the Gambia Technical Institute, where she trained as a secretary.

Career

Nearly twenty years later, Ceesay observed that even the main streets of N’jau were heavily affected by waste accumulation, including discarded plastics, tins, tires, household waste, and especially plastic bags, often surrounded by standing water that attracted malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Public spaces such as playgrounds, food markets, and animal feeding areas were located near these waste sites, with residents largely unaware of the associated health and environmental risks. As a result, the village experienced livestock deaths caused by the ingestion of plastic, as well as recurring outbreaks of malaria and other diseases, due to the absence of an organized waste disposal system beyond dumping refuse behind homes.

In addition, economic hardship led some residents to burn plastic waste for cooking and warmth, further contributing to health and environmental concerns. Her story was published in a book authored by Miranda Paul and Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon Ceesay was recognized as one of the 100 Most Reputable Africans for 2025 by Reputable Poll International.