THE CASE FOR SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT IN KENYA

The crackdown on illegal dumping of waste in Kenya!

Have you noticed all the trash lying around?

More and more people are beginning to notice a growing increase in illegal dumping. All you need to do is take a walk in your neighbourhood. Suddenly, there is trash everywhere, even in areas that have formerly been clean.

What is happening?

I'm glad you asked. In this blog post, we will discuss changes that have been made to the Kenya Waste Management Bill and the steps you can take to ensure that your home or business is in line with government regulations.

What the garbage collector is not telling you.

Did you know that Kenya's capital Nairobi is home to one of the world's largest open dumpsites, Dandora dumpsite? The dumpsite covers approximately 30 acres of land and despite being declared full in 1996, continues to receive about 850 tons of waste daily. While that alone raises a lot of concern, it is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the state of waste management in the country.

It is estimated that Kenya generates between 3,000 to 4,000 tons of waste per day, majority of which ends up in open dumpsites like Dandora, Kang' oki in Kiambu, Gioto in Nakuru, Kachok in Kisumu, Mwakirunge in Mombasa, just to name a few "designated" dumping areas.

Then there are all the smaller illegal dumpsites, on roadsides, near markets and shopping centres and even in residential areas. The question is, when those trash nags leave the front of your gate every week, where do they end up? If you don't know the answer to that question, then chances are that your home or business is a contributor to the growing size of these dumpsites. But don't you worry, things are taking a drastic turn for the better.

About the Sustainable Waste Management Act

Kenya signed the Sustainable Waste Management Bill into law on 11 October 2022.

Every Kenyan has a right to a clean and healthy environment. A right that has openly been violated for many years by both public and private entities. One of the key principles of the waste management act is to treat waste as a resource that can be harnessed for wealth creation, and employment. This means that waste, which has so often been seen as a symbol of economic inequality will be converted into a tool for economic empowerment. Awesome, right?

The act aims at:

• Promoting sustainable waste management.

• Improving the health of all Kenyans by ensuring a clean and healthy environment.

• Reducing air, land and water pollution.

• Promoting and ensuring the effective delivery of waste services.

• Creating an enabling environment for employment in the green economy.

• Establishing environmentally sound infrastructure and systems for sustainable waste management.

• Promoting circular economy practices for green growth.

• Encouraging responsible public behaviour in waste management and environmental conservation.

What you need to know.

Waste management shall now be a devolved function of County Governments. County governments are required to:

• Ensure that waste generated within the county is disposed of within the county boundaries unless there is an agreed-upon framework for intercounty transportation and disposal of waste.

• Make the polluter pay. The cost of cleaning up any element of the environment that has been damaged by pollution shall be paid by the polluter. (So, maybe those of you who are in the habit of throwing stuff from moving vehicles should be made to pay the salaries of County council workers...just a suggestion)

• Provide central collection centres for materials that can be recycled.

• Collect data on waste management activities.

• Maintain a register of all waste service providers within their boundaries.

One dustbin is not enough!

Every household/business is required to sort their trash into dry and wet waste so as to ease the process of sorting into recyclable and non-recyclable waste. The days of putting your kitchen refuse in the same bin as plastic bottles and paper are long gone! The best time to start is now!

Need help figuring out what is categorised as dry and wet waste? Do not hesitate to reach out to Friends of Creation, we would love to equip you to live more sustainably.

Here is the BOMBSHELL

Within two years of this Act becoming law, which is by 11 October 2024, this law prescribes the closure of all open dumpsites. I don't about you... but sounds to me like things are changing very quickly. While this is great news for all Friends of Creation, it has not been received well by waste collectors who have been dependent on open dumpsites to keep business running. The closure of open dumpsites means that there is a need to dispose of waste elsewhere, which explains all the trash we have been seeing around.

What do we do now?

Now more than ever, it is necessary to ensure that we are aligned with proper waste management companies. That, or we can wait until there is a crackdown on illegal dumping, and we're left with trash sitting in our yards for weeks while we try to finally SIGN UP with a reliable, environmentally conscious waste collector.

Become a Friend of Creation!

We would like to extend an invitation to you as a business/homeowner to become part of our ever-growing community of people who are committed to keeping the environment clean and safe.

SIGN UP for our waste collection services beginning this new month and be part of the movement towards a cleaner, greener planet.

What sets Friends of Creation apart from other Waste Management companies?

Friends of Creation is not merely a waste management company, it is a community committed to environmental sustainability.

We ensure this by:

• Recycling 98.8% of your regular household waste. You are welcome to visit our material recovery centre in Tigoni, Limuru and experience for yourself exactly how we do this.

• Recording and keeping data on waste collected from each home/business and advice on how to reduce the amount of waste generated...that way you can keep tabs on the sustainability progress of your home/business.

• Providing reusable trash bags for all our clients.

• Offering educational programs on composting, sorting and day-to-day waste management practices to ensure that our community is better informed and equipped to better care for the environment.

• We are also involved in local after-school programs that engage kids in the fight against pollution, by joining our community, you will be helping equip the next generation to better care for the environment and secure their future.

• We carry out regular roadside clean-ups which we invite our community to be part of.

• Friends of Creation is compliant with all government regulations, so you never have to worry about a crackdown disrupting your routine.

As you consider joining our community, feel free to make inquiries and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comment section below or on any of our social media platforms. Also, consider visiting our site in Tigoni, Limuru to see what we do and meet our team who will be happy to tell you more about our mission, vision and how you can get on board. Looking forward to hearing from you.