Nakuru County Government is focusing on turning waste disposal sites into useful resources through recycling.
County Environment Officer Kimani Kuria said that the County in collaboration with strategic partners, had recognized the power of innovation and transformation and was now converting waste disposal sites, mostly with plastic materials, into centres of sustainable innovation.
The CECM said they were partnering with local businesses, entrepreneurs and organizations to transform the waste into eco-friendly products like construction materials, furniture and household items among other products.
Speaking during a meeting organized by the County’s Department of Environment in partnership with the Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD), the County official said they were also intensifying tree planting drives towards achieving a clean and sustainable environment.
The forum was aimed at enhancing the capacity of waste pickers to achieve sustainable waste management.
Kuria said Governor Susan Kihika’s administration was reaching out to business people and residents to continue practicing 3 Rs by Reusing, Recycling, and Recovering what is useful from waste disposals.
“As a county, we are working with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and other stakeholders on ways of discouraging people from using plastics to ensure a clean environment,” Mr Kuria added.
The environment officer observed that waste management in Kenya had long been a thorn in the side of environmental sustainability, and that it was being worsened by rapid population growth and changing lifestyles.
While acknowledging that the country was generating an enormous amount of waste daily, Kuria regretted that much of the waste was left to pile up in uncontrolled dumpsites, waterways, and open spaces, causing untold harm to ecosystems and public health.
He however said that Kenya has the chance to turn the tide by weaving sustainable waste management practices into its economic framework.
CEJAD, a non-governmental organization is promoting the sound management of chemicals and waste for better human health and environmental protection as part of its project, dubbed “Facilitating Waste Pickers’ Organizing and Recycling Practices in Kenya and Across Africa,” is funded by the SAGE Fund.
The project seeks to foster dialogue and consultation on the ongoing plastics treaty negotiations and the just transition of waste workers.
While underscoring the critical role of waste pickers in waste management Mr Kuria emphasized the county’s commitment to their smooth transition into structured and sustainable waste management frameworks.
He said Nakuru County Government, under the leadership of Governor Kihika, was committed to ensuring that the environment was conducive for every resident.
The CECM said reports indicated that each Kenyan generates about half a kilogramme of waste every day, equating to 22,000 tonnes daily or around 8 million tonnes annually. Alarmingly, he added that only 38 per cent of this waste is collected, with less than 10 per cent being recycled. The remainder are said to be either illegally dumped, burnt in the open air, or left to rot in makeshift dumpsites resulting in widespread environmental degradation.
Mr Kuria pointed out that urbanization had also played a significant role in the worsening waste crisis.
He observed that the volume of waste produced in Kenya’s towns and cities had shot up faster than the rate of development of waste management capacity of the urban setups, leaving the country struggling to keep up with mounting waste.
The CECM noted that the economic benefits of waste management could flow freely if Kenya embraced the circular economy model, where materials are recycled and reused rather than discarded.
This approach, he added would not only cut down on imports of raw materials but also bolster local industries focused on recycling and resource recovery, with organic waste, which accounts for a large proportion of the waste produced, being converted into energy through technologies.
The official asserted that the move would not only boost Kenya’s energy mix but also curb greenhouse gas emissions adding that by recovering valuable materials like plastics, metals, and glass, Kenya would reduce its reliance on imports and shore up its economic resilience.
Mr Kuria said investing in waste-to-energy technologies could pave the way for turning organic waste into biogas or electricity, providing a win-win solution for waste management and energy production.
The Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022, requires devolved units to establish waste recovery and recycling facilities and sanitary landfills for the disposal of non-recoverable waste.
By Esther Mwangi
