06th April, 2023
#TAKATHURSDAY
During this #TakaThursday, we featured Dr. Ayub Macharia, Director of Environmental Education and Awareness in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Kenya. He is a professional in matters environment and waste management, and he spoke about sustainable waste management in Kenya and policies that govern waste management.
Dr. Ayub explained that Kenya’s waste management law was enacted in 1999, but a new law was passed in 2022 to harness resources from waste. The Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022 requires households and businesses to separate waste into organic and recyclable (synthetic) materials, then they are collected by licensed waste service providers and taken to material recovery facilities. The law also introduces the concept of extended producer responsibility, which means that producers, such as manufacturers and importers, are responsible for their products even at the post-consumer level. They must ensure that their products and packaging are collected, segregated and properly disposed of or recycled.
According to Dr. Macharia, sustainable waste management can create jobs and support livelihoods. For example, Nairobi generates 3000 tons of waste on a daily basis where 1800 tons (60% of the waste composition) are organic waste, which can support 18,000 jobs if properly managed. He also explained that the responsibility for waste management is shared between the national and county governments, as well as producers and waste service providers. The implementation of the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022 will involve producers registering their products with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and identifying their peers (producers who deal with similar products) for responsible waste management and fines may be imposed for non-compliance. Sustainable waste management is crucial for Kenya’s environment and economy. The new law provides a framework for responsible waste management and encourages producers to take responsibility for their products. By properly managing waste, Kenya can create jobs, support livelihoods and protect the environment from pollution.
The Kenyan government has introduced new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations to manage waste and reduce pollution. The regulations require producers to take responsibility for the disposal of their products and packaging, including hazardous waste, electronic waste, end-of-life vehicles and non-packaging items. The cost of waste management is then divided among the peers, and incentives are provided based on waste reduction and recyclability. This regulations aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote a circular economy and create business opportunities in sustainable management.
Dr. Ayub further emphasized on the importance of public awareness and responsibility in waste management. The national government, county governments, NEMA, civil society, and producers are responsible for creating awareness and labeling products for proper disposal and encouraged our viewers to comply with the new regulations by taking responsibility of their waste. He mentioned on the availability of opportunities around waste management stating that there is a law that aims to ensure that recyclable waste does no go to the dumpsites, but is taken to material recovery facilities, which are currently not in existent but will be available soon in all the dumpsites. He encouraged community members to start small scale waste management facilities as it is an opportunity that can be beneficial to them.
Another discussion point was on the importance of waste segregation and according to him, segregation at source aims to prevent environmental pollution and stressed on the need for individuals to segregate their waste into organic and synthetic materials, and ensure that the waste is given to licensed waste service providers and collectors. The goal of source segregation is to achieve a clear and sustainable environment by reducing the amount of waste that ends up in the landfills. This approach can improve the economy, society and environment by creating jobs, reducing inputs and improving human health.
The Director of Environmental Education and Awareness in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Kenya then talked about the concept of circular economy and explained that circularity is critical to achieving sustainable development goals in societal and environmental dimensions. It can help reduce resource extraction, waste generation and pollution of the environment, while also creating new economic opportunities. By adopting a circular economy approach, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
Waste segregation at source and the circular economy are important concepts that can help us achieve a sustainable future. By segregating waste and adopting a circular economy approach, we can reduce waste and pollution, create new economic opportunities and improve human health. It is up to individuals, businesses and governments to work together to implement these concepts and create a more sustainable world.
In conclusion, Kenya’s new Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022, along with the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, emphasizes waste segregation, extended producer responsibility, and public awareness to achieve sustainable waste management. By implementing these policies and adopting a circular economy approach, Kenya can create jobs, support livelihoods, reduce waste and pollution, and protect the environment. It is crucial for individuals, businesses, and governments to collaborate in implementing these measures for a more sustainable future.