Waste management has consistently been a significant challenge in Kenya. Today, landfills serve as the primary waste disposal method, often mixing hazardous waste. Unfortunately, this poses a serious risk to both the environment and society. However, in recent years, there have been encouraging developments, including the 2017 ban on single-use plastic polythene bags and the subsequent ban in 2020 on the use of single-use plastic bottles in protected areas such as forests, national reserves, and game parks. 

In 2022, the Government of Kenya took a crucial step by introducing the Sustainable Waste Management Act. A key feature of this legislation is the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) approach, which holds producers accountable for disposing of their products after consumer use. Fundamentally, the Act mandates County Governments and Producers to adopt sustainable waste management practices that prioritise the principles of Reusing, Reducing, and Recycling to ensure a more responsible and effective waste management system. 

Despite the challenges in implementation, some counties are making significant strides toward sustainable waste management.  Kwale County has notably embraced these sustainable practices and is actively supporting community initiatives, such as the Kwale Recycling Centre (KRC), which is the subject of this article.

The Kwale Recycling Center is a registered community-based organization focused on improving waste management and promoting environmental awareness. At its core, the KRC is an innovative initiative driven by a passionate group of motivated youth committed to tackling issues of waste mismanagement. They are additionally dedicated to educating and training their community on sustainable environmental practices to ensure they build better communal habits.

The KRC recognizes that not all environmental problems can be addressed by one organization. This is why they collaborate with other organizations in the recycling industry to manage the waste they cannot process independently. For example, the Terra Safi Company converts organic waste into fertilizer, while Milly Glass Works Limited buys crushed clear glass from KRC to manufacture new glass products. Yucheng Investments Limited buys PET, transforming it into textile-grade polyester chips. These collaborations are meaningful as they strengthen their collective impact, promoting effective waste management practices and, ultimately, contributing to a healthy environment.

Unfortunately, they often find waste mixed, which limits the efficiency of processing the materials collected from the green stations. However, they recognize that behavioral change is a process that requires time and that this challenge can be addressed gradually.

Additionally, the  KRC operates on a limited budget while managing many projects. Funding is a significant hurdle, and they need support to acquire more machinery to process the large volumes of waste they receive. They also require additional personal protective gear to increase the number of people that help them manually sort the waste received. 

To help the KRC, you can contact them directly or visit their website to learn more about their needs and how you can get involved. Your support can make a meaningful difference in their efforts toward effective waste management and community engagement.

Musings: In my opinion, the KRC is a highly commendable model that can be used to create similar recycling centers across the country and effectively address the challenges of waste management. If you would like to learn more, here is a list of NEMA Waste Management Facilities in Kenya.