The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is committed to promoting and implementing circular economy principles across various sectors.
According to the State Corporation, the circular economy model of production and consumption is designed to motivate individuals to make environmentally conscious choices in their daily lives, fostering a culture of sustainability.
NEMA Director in charge of enforcement Dr Ayub Macharia said that they have a comprehensive programme aimed at reducing waste, fostering recycling and encouraging responsible consumption habits among Kenyans
“The circular economy model prioritizes the minimization of waste by reusing, recycling and repurposing materials to create a closed-loop system where one person’s waste is someone else’s raw material,” he said.
A circular economy is a sustainable, restorative industrial system designed to eliminate waste, pollution, and resource depletion by keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible.
Dr Macharia observed that they want to create a country that generates income from waste and will spearhead the initiative on the circular economy model with emphasis on the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling resources.
Speaking in Nakuru during a sensitization forum on effective, extended producer responsibility systems and implementation of sustainable laws to end plastic pollution, the official pointed out that with the circular economy, the country can drive the optimization of resources, reduce the consumption of raw materials and recover waste by recycling or giving it a second lease as a new product.
According to Dr Macharia this approach does not only address environmental concerns but also promotes economic growth by optimizing resource usage.
He affirmed that NEMA is actively driving a shift from a linear to a circular economy to foster sustainability, focusing on reducing waste, reusing materials and recycling.
“Through the Sustainable Waste Management Act (2022), NEMA enforces Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to ensure manufacturers manage product life cycles, aiming for a “Zero Waste” nation,” he explained.
Dr Macharia observed that past inventories estimate that 60 percent to 70 percent of waste generated in Nakuru is organic, 20 percent plastic, 10 percent paper, 1 percent medical waste and 2 percent metal.
Unfortunately, he noted, most waste is mixed together and taken to dumpsites or left uncollected, clogging waterways, attracting disease-causing vectors and polluting the environment.
Some of the reasons for littering, he stated, is because the items are considered to be of little value.
The event was organised by Electronic Waste Responsibility Organization of Kenya, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Center for Environment, Justice and Development.
The Director observed that as the scale of urbanization surges, waste management is increasingly posing growing socio-economic, environmental and institutional challenges in the country adding that there was a need for promotion of circular economy practices for green growth through inculcation of responsible public behaviour in waste management.
“The ultimate goal is to have a clean and healthy environment and create job opportunities in the green economy. We need to entrench a culture of shifting away from the traditional linear model of extraction, production, consumption and disposal also referred to as “take-make-dispose,” he explained.
He affirmed that NEMA was promoting a transition that involves citizens actively participating in waste management by segregating waste at the source, using designated bins for different waste types and recognizing the value in discarded materials.
“Waste must be handled in a way that creates a value chain and leads to reduction of waste or minimal waste taken to landfills or dumpsites. We are rooting for a circular economy approach to waste management, which ensures that almost all the waste generated is treated as a resource so that there is nothing left or very little waste is taken to the dumpsite,” he explained.
Dr Macharia added “This is not just another attempt at a cleanup campaign. It’s a strategic shift, an environmental and economic revolution. We are redefining waste and turning it into opportunities, particularly for our young people.”
Bernard Owino from Langa Home Waste Management lobby from Naivasha Sub-County noted that effective waste management is critical not only for environmental conservation but also for public health and sustainable development.
Owino underscored the importance of actively embracing technology-driven solutions to transform waste into economic empowerment and environmental conservation opportunities.
“By investing in modern solid waste disposal, wastewater treatment, responsible waste management policies and circular economy initiatives, we will create a more sustainable future that benefits both people and the planet,” he said.
“Waste should be segregated—putting organic waste separately, plastic waste separately, hazardous waste separately—and each put in clearly marked color-coded bins or bags,” he noted.
He noted that waste, when managed effectively, can be a valuable resource for producing energy, creating compost, and recovering materials for recycling. Investing in modern waste management technologies and infrastructure, he said, can create new jobs and business opportunities in the waste management sector.
He pointed out that new waste streams (e.g., electronic waste, microplastics) and evolving technologies require updated legislations and regulations.
Reducing waste volumes and promoting recycling can lead to significant cost savings for counties through reduced waste management expenses, Mr Omondi indicated.
“The circular economy creates opportunities for new jobs across various stages of the waste management value chain, such as collection, sorting, recycling and processing,” he stated.
Owino underlined the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in transforming waste management practices.
Griffins Ochieng from the Center for Environment, Justice and Development underscored the importance of county governments crafting partnerships with the private sector to embrace technology-driven solutions to transform waste into economic and environmental opportunities.
“By investing in modern solid waste disposal, wastewater treatment, responsible waste management policies, and circular economy initiatives, we will be firmly on the path to creating a more sustainable future that benefits both people and the planet,” he said.
Ochieng added “Through such initiatives we will be committed to guaranteeing proper waste management which curbs pollution, conserves resources and improves public health by reducing exposure to hazardous materials. Beyond environmental conservation, proper wastewater management plays a crucial role in economic growth. It prevents pollution in rivers, lakes and oceans, safeguarding aquatic ecosystems.”
He said that generation of power from waste has the potential of reducing environmental degradation and increasing employment opportunities.
He observed that rapid urbanization, improved economic situation and industrialization had transformed solid waste management into one of the greatest challenges facing major urban centres in Kenya.
“This calls for Kenya to reduce, reuse and recycle waste. Proper sanitation programmes including adequate landfill sites can help our country to improve the current state of solid waste management and save money. We must urgently exploit the energy potential stored in waste through major available waste-to-energy technologies and also strategic action plan for implementation of these technologies,” added Ochieng.
Ochieng added that by innovating waste management through the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle), Kenya can resolve not only the challenge but also create employment, promote economic growth, improve health and ecosystems—which in turn contributes to a happier, greener and healthier country—and can create enormous savings for the nation.
“Sustainable waste management will contribute towards checking climate change. It has the capacity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent. Waste can also be turned into useful raw materials that can make stationery, fabrics and other value-added products,” he concluded.
by Jane Ngugi and Dennis Rasto
